IPL 2023: Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Ben Stokes will reportedly return home after CSK's final league game in IPL 2023. CSK are pushing hard to make it to the Playoffs in IPL 2023. The four-time champions Chennai have 15 points in 13 games and occupy the second spot in the IPL 2023 Points table.
Stokes played his part in two matches for Chennai this season and was sidelined with a toe injury. The English all-rounder played in the first two games for CSK - one against Gujarat Titans and the other against Lucknow Super Giants. He was hit with an injury issue. Now as per ESPNCricinfo, Stokes will head back to his home after CSK's final league game against Delhi Capitals on May 20. Bowling is a concern for Stokes and he is kept as a batting cover but Chennai are not in the mood to make any tweaks to their team.
CSK's head coach also opened up on Ben Stokes' injury. Fleming said that bowling remains a bit of a challenge at the moment for Stokes but he is being kept as a batting cover for the team. "Ben's ability to bowl overs at the moment is still a bit of a challenge, but he's there as that batting cover," Fleming said after CSK's loss to KKR at Chepauk as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
Meanwhile, he also stated that CSK are likely to go with the same team in the next game despite a loss at the hands of KKR in their penultimate league stage game. "But with Moeen bowling well in good conditions - we go to Delhi which has been turning - we think the balance of the side has been right. And look, we're second on the table, so it's not our style to chop and change just because we've had a loss where things didn't go our way. We won't do that. We might tinker with it but we're very focused on getting the right team for Delhi," Fleming added.
This can also be a setback for England, who will square off against Ireland in a one-off Test and then against Australia in the famous Ashes series, both starting in June. Stokes was earlier suffering from a knee issue when he was on England duty in a Test series against New Zealand. He had earlier stated that he would like to return from IPL early to prepare for the one-off Test against Ireland and the Ashes.
"Yes, I'll play," Stokes said on being asked if he will play the Ireland Test. "I'll make sure that I give myself enough time to get back and play that game," he added. Stokes suffered a toe injury and was sidelined from CSK's team after playing two games. As stated by Fleming earlier, he received another little setback.
Notably, England are also having fingers crossed over the fitness concerns of star bowlers James Anderson and Jofra Archer. As stated by ECB, Anderson suffered a groin injury during Lancashire's most recent County Championship clash against Somerset at Manchester's Emirates Old Trafford. Notably, Archer is having issues with his elbow and is ruled out of IPL. His participation in the Ashes is also under the clouds.
