England cricketer Ben Stokes has confirmed that he will be available for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the popular league will start on 15th April. Earlier, it was scheduled to begin on 29th March.
Stokes represents IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals (IPL) in IPL. He started his journey with the Royals in 2018. Royals bought the allrounder for the hefty price of INR Rs 12.5 Crore. It will be a big relief for the franchise that their crucial player will be the part of the impending league.
Ben Stokes Preparing For IPL:
England cricketers haven’t played a competitive match for a long time amid coronavirus scare.
Ben Stokes assures that the next competitive match which he is going to play is IPL if it happens. He further said that he preparing hard for the league.
“At the moment my next competitive cricket is going to be in the IPL. I have to get my head around that I am playing even though in the back of my mind I know I am probably not. I have to build up and get myself physically in a position that if it does happen I am good to go,” Stokes told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I cannot take three weeks off and expect the body to be ready for 20 April because it doesn’t work like that. It might happen and if it does I don’t want to be behind,” he added.
Another player who has confirmed his availability is Tom Banton. He plays for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Apart from Ben Stokes and Banton, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Eoin Morgan, Jason Roy, Harry Gurney, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, and Jonny Bairstow are other English players who have IPL contracts.
BCCI can only resume the play if only the situation improves by May. If gets worse, the Indian board might have to cancel the cash-rich league.