The upcoming Indian Premier League’s Chennai Super Kings are hopeful that Ben Stokes would be available for the entire season (IPL). The franchise’s CEO Kasi Viswanathan stated that as of Friday (March 3), when the season’s preseason camp is set to begin, there is no information to contradict the previous assurances regarding the full availability of the English players.
“That is our understanding. Before the auction, the BCCI had conveyed to us that the English players will be available for the entire IPL,” the Viswanathan told Cricbuzz on Thursday. “We’ve not had any information that is contrary to the BCCI communication.”
The CSK official’s claim is made against a backdrop of confusing signals from Stokes and allegations of his injury. Prior to the Test, Stokes had committed to the England team by saying that he would consider leaving the IPL stint early in order to be in time for England’s Test against Ireland. The England red-ball captain had a knee injury that limited his movements in the recently concluded Test against New Zealand at Basin Reserve in Wellington.
“Yes, I’ll play. I’ll be making sure that I give myself enough time to get back and play that (Ireland) game,”. The Ireland Test, which begins at Lord’s on June 1, will not delay Stokes’ arrival in London, he indicated last week. The biggest cricket home match for the England team immediately follows the Test with the Ashes.
The IPL runs from March 31 to May 28; the Ireland Test is too near to those days. If Chennai Super Kings make it to the final, there may be a scheduling problem, if not an overlap. In that event, Stokes, for whom the CSK management forked up Rs 16.25 crore at the auction, will require agreement from all parties, including the team, the player, the BCCI, and the England board.
An England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) representative dismissed worries that Stokes would sustain an injury and said that the English captain would work to negotiate with the team so that everyone’s interests would be safeguarded. The ECB official stated, “He’ll manage with his franchise but there is no date scheduled for his return from the IPL,” while it was learned via franchise sources that Stokes had spoken to CSK coach Stephen Fleming during the Test series in New Zealand.
The majority of the CSK roster, including captain MS Dhoni, will report to the Chepauk Stadium on Friday as their training camp gets underway. Deepak Chahar and Ruturaj Gaikwad, two of their major players, will join the camp one week after they currently attend the NCA in Bengaluru.
The camp will provide the team the chance to talk about Kyle Jamieson’s replacement. Viswanathan stated that he will discuss a replacement for the New Zealand pacer, who has been ruled out of the season due to injury, with captain Dhoni and coach Fleming. At the auction, Jamieson was purchased for Rs 1 crore.
