Ben Stokes, the England Test captain, will bring a lot of strength to the Chennai Super Kings team. However, he has been having difficulty with his knee and there is speculation that for the first few games, he will only be able to play as a batter for CSK.
The recent auction saw the Chennai Super Kings snap up Ben Stokes for an extraordinary INR 16.25 crore, making him the team’s most expensive signing. The English all-rounder was training alongside his new teammates in Ahmedabad; however, his injury management is expected to be a priority heading into the Ashes series, which will take place immediately after the IPL.
Here’s we look at three reasons why Ben Stokes, not bowling, is a huge blow to CSK:
3) Thin bowling stocks for the team
CSK has received a massive blow with many injuries and absences from players before the season. Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana will be available to CSK after the first three matches. Kyle Jamieson has already been ruled out, so Sisanda Magala will take his place. Mukesh Choudhary is also doubtful, as he is still dealing with a back problem at the NCA in Bengaluru. Ben Stokes could’ve provided a lot of balance to the squad with his bowling, but unfortunately, due to his knee issues, CSK will be particularly hard hit in terms of their pace bowling options.
2) Home matches at Chepauk
MS Dhoni’s options for spinners are of high quality, making the Chepauk wicket likely to help spinners. It would have been a great asset if Stokes had been there with his cutters and bumpers. Without his presence, Dhoni must rotate his bowlers without the benefit of the experienced Stokes and the array of bowling variety he brings on slow tracks.
1) Lack of options in death bowling
The CSK is facing a difficult situation in light of the delayed arrival of key players. With their arrival pushed towards later in the season, the team has been left to search for replacements for the all-important death overs of the innings – a problem only worsened with Ben Stokes’s absence. His experience and technique could have been highly valuable during the crucial final overs.