England’s Test captain, Ben Stokes, recently shared his thoughts on his debut season with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. Despite being bought for a hefty sum of Rs 16.25 Crore, Stokes only managed to play two matches for the MS Dhoni-led team before getting injured and returning to his homeland two weeks before CSK lifted the IPL title. During a pre-match press conference before the one-off Test against Ireland, Stokes was asked about his experience with CSK this year.
In an interesting comparison, Stokes referred to former Chelsea skipper John Terry. He stated, “I played a little bit of a John Terry role winning the IPL,” referring to CSK’s 5th IPL title triumph. This comparison draws from John Terry’s famous Champions League title win with Chelsea in 2012, where he wore the full team kit despite not playing in the final due to suspension. Similarly, Stokes made his last appearance for CSK on April 3rd and remained on the bench for over a month before heading back to England.
Although Stokes will receive the winner’s medal for CSK’s achievement, his contribution to the team this season was limited due to his injury. Nonetheless, he expressed his joy and pride in being part of the winning squad.
While the IPL 2023 final between CSK and Gujarat Titans was taking place, Stokes, who was at the team hotel, watched Ravindra Jadeja score the winning runs on his mobile screen, according to ESPN Cricinfo. Furthermore, Stokes revealed that he has taken inspiration from fellow English cricketer James Anderson and has adjusted his bowling workload between Test matches. He emphasized the importance of managing his body correctly during the period between games, as he can’t bowl as much as he used to. Stokes explained that he doesn’t require extensive bowling sessions to stay in form, as he can have longer breaks and quickly regain his rhythm when needed. He stated that it’s not a cause for concern if he doesn’t bowl in a particular game.
Ben Stokes reflected on his limited stint with CSK in IPL 2023, drawing parallels to John Terry’s famous Champions League title win with Chelsea. Despite his injury and subsequent absence from the team, Stokes expressed his happiness in being part of CSK’s victorious campaign. He also discussed his approach to managing his bowling workload, highlighting the importance of finding the right balance between matches to ensure his overall performance remains at its peak.