Ben Stokes, an all-around player for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), participated in the first two games of the 2023 Indian Premier League but was absent from the games against the Mumbai Indians (MI) on Saturday and the Rajasthan Royals on Sunday. Cricketer Ben Stokes of the Chennai Super Kings was forced to withdraw from the game against the Mumbai Indians due to a minor toe injury.
CSK spent Rs 16.5 crore in the December auction for the England international, but he has yet to make an impression. Big things were anticipated of the all-rounder who was anticipated to succeed MS Dhoni as the next captain of CSK. Nevertheless, he sustained an injury after a few games into the season.
Following that, here are three ways CSK can compensate for Ben Stokes’ absence in their forthcoming IPL 2023 games:
1) Taking Matheesha Pathirana’s pace:
Last year, Matheesha Pathirana played great for CSK, and they may need him to step up for the team again. Pathirana might be a handful at the M Chidambaram Stadium because he has based his bowling motion on Lasith Malinga.
With Stokes and Deepak Chahar now injured, they appear to be a little weak on seam bowling.
Including Pathirana on the side would provide MS Dhoni with more decision-making choices, particularly during death overs.
2) Moeen Ali serving as a floater:
As a floater in the batting order, Moeen Ali might be utilised. The left-hander can target spinners and plays spin well, a role that was originally intended for Stokes when he was chosen in the auction.
Ali’s ability to strike the ball cleanly and his preference for pace make him a valuable top-order batter if necessary. If Devon Conway is dismissed early, Dhoni is a solid alternative at No. 3 because he prefers to bat in a left-right combination.
3) Making use of Dwaine Pretorius’ all-around abilities:
Dwaine Pretorius may be an excellent backup if Ben Stokes is not healthy. The South African has demonstrated his skill with the bat and the ball, giving the team a nice balance.
Pretorius is reliable at the tail end of the innings and has good variation in the death overs. Pretorius has previously batted at No. 3 for South Africa, and he is no slouch with the bat either. If necessary, he may be moved up the order to press on the accelerator.
While CSK would undoubtedly suffer without Ben Stokes, they have a strong enough squad to function without him if he is down for an extended period.