Ben Stokes needs to maintain Test cricket at ‘forefront of his mind’ whereas deciding IPL 2023 participation

Ben Stokes, on Tuesday, August 23, mentioned that his participation within the 2023 version of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will rely upon England’s taking part in calender this 12 months. Stokes, who bid adieu to ODI cricket earlier this 12 months, mentioned that he’ll take choices preserving Test cricket as his top-most precedence.

Stokes is at present England’s Test captain after he changed Joe Root on the helm following England’s 0-1 collection loss within the West Indies.

“It is a case of looking at schedules, looking ahead at what we have got coming up. But as I have made it very clear, Test cricket is at the forefront of my mind and all of my time decisions will be based around Test matches.

“Now being the captain, I’ve the accountability to try this,” Stokes was quoted as saying to PTI during a virtual interaction organized by ‘Prime Video’ on the occasion of the release of his documentary series ‘Ben Stokes: Phoenix from the Ashes’.

Stokes made his IPL debut back in 2017 and has already played four seasons. In his very first season, he won the award for the Most Valuable Player while representing the defunct Rising Pune Supergiant.

In 43 IPL matches, Stokes has scored two centuries and two half-centuries. Apart from scoring a hundred for the Supergiant, Stokes also had a century to his name while playing for Rajasthan Royals (RR).

Stokes lauded the IPL for being a massive platform for everyone, but also said that he needs to check England’s Test schedule before confirming his participation in IPL 2023.

“I’ve performed within the IPL for 4 years. I’ve cherished it each time I’ve been there. It’s an incredible competitors to be a part of, not only for the spectacle of the IPL, however the alternative to work together with one of the best gamers on the earth, and among the finest coaches.

“It is just an amazing experience to be involved in but as I said, there is a schedule to be looked at around the window of the IPL,” Stokes said.

“As England cricketers, our schedule is jam-packed and we seem to be playing all year around. I think our summer is everybody’s winter and when our winter comes along, it is everybody’s summer. So, people are either coming here to play or we are touring to play cricket,” Stokes added.

— ENDS —