CSK suffer another blow; Ben Stokes to miss IPL 2023 closing stages

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Wellington, Feb 21: England's Test captain Ben Stokes has announced he will miss the closing stages of IPL 2023 irrespective of whether his franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) reach the play-offs or not.

The 31-year-old southpaw said he will participate in the one-off Test match against Ireland at Lords' in order to prepare for the Ashes series against Australia.

Stokes, who missed the last two editions of the cash-rich league due to various reasons, was bought by four-time champions Chennai Super Kings for a whopping Rs 16.25 crore in IPL auction in December.

Stokes said he will be back in England to prepare for the busy English summer even if CSK reach the final stages of the IPL.

When asked if he'll play the Ireland Test, Stokes said "Yes, I'll play." "I'll be making sure that I give myself enough time to get back and play that (Ireland) game," Stokes said ahead of England's second Test with New Zealand.

CSK star Ben Stokes to speak other English players in IPL 2023 as well

CSK all-rounder Ben Stokes said he will consult the other England Test players competing in the IPL, what they want to do to prepare for the Ashes.

The likes of Joe Root, Mark Wood, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Jofra Archer, Sam Curran and Harry Brook are set to play the IPL.

"I'll probably get round the individuals and ask them what they want to be ready for for the Ashes, because those five games are obviously the big ones of the summer, and you've got to think about what lads want.

"But what if something was to happen in that game (Ireland) and we lose someone for the Ashes ... It's just one of those where you have to weigh up the options of what the individual person actually wants out of that week, versus do we really need to play that one.

"Because, obviously, I'm right in saying that series is bigger than that game against Ireland," he added.