IPL Auction 2025: Ben Stokes decides to leave Indian Cricket
Table of Contents
England Test captain Ben Stokes is set to miss the upcoming season of Indian Premier League. Being the captain of England's Test team, Stokes has a hectic Test season ahead of him as he aims to keep himself fit and available for the whole season.
Several England players are also likely to join Stokes in this list. Over the years, the IPL has seen many players from England lighting up the tournament. However, some of them are likely to be unavailable the next season.
Ben Stokes set to miss IPL 2025
Ben Stokes has prioritized Test cricket over other formats right from the start of his career. England have an important Test season ahead of them which also includes the highly anticipated Ashes series in the 2025-26 season.
Stokes recently recovered from a hamstring injury and made his comeback from the second Test against Pakistan at Multan. He has been injury-prone over the last few years and skipping the IPL will allow him to be fresh ahead of an important Test season for England.
The IPL governing council announced a new set of rules and regulations in which overseas players pulling out at the last moment at the start of the tournament without a specific reason can be banned for a period of two years.
It is believed that the new rules and regulations have forced England's players to think before they declare themselves available for the rest of the season. The last date to register for the IPL 2025 auction is November 3.
English players are likely to enter the auction this year but could declare themselves unavailable for the rest of the season. This is because it is mandatory to enter the mega auction to make them eligible for the next two seasons.
Ben Stokes to take part in IPL 2025 auction?
However, it is not yet clear whether Stokes will enter the auction or not. If he pulls out of the upcoming auction, he won't be eligible to play in the league till 2027, when he will be 36, barring any rule changes.
Ben Stokes is not a regular in England's T20I team these days but could still be picked up if he appears at the auction. The allrounder is known for his big-match temperament and has played vital roles in winning ICC trophies for England.
He was the Player of the Match in the 2019 ODI World Cup final for his match-winning knock with the bat. He also played a key knock in the final of the T20 World Cup 2022 and helped England win the title.
Ben Stokes in IPL
Ben Stokes has played just three matches in the IPL in the last four years. He has represented three IPL teams so far, Rising Pune Supergiants, Rajasthan Royals, and Chennai Super Kings.
In 2017, he won the Player of the Tournament award while playing for Rising Pune Supergiants in his debut IPL season. He helped his team reach the final that season with his performance with bat and ball.
