IPL 2020: Ben Stokes Likely To Join Rajasthan Royals Camp In Early October

Rajasthan Royals are set to receive a huge boost as their star man Ben Stokes is unlikely to skip this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL 2020). There were huge apprehensions over his participation because of his father being diagnosed with brain cancer.

The England star is currently in New Zealand to be with his father. He left for Christchurch in the middle of the Test series against Pakistan last month to be with his family. At first, reports suggested that the allrounder would miss the first part of IPL 2020 and that the franchise would “wait” for his call before taking the next step.

But recent reports suggested that there was little clarity over his availability and there was also a chance of him missing the tournament altogether. The franchise also decided to give the player all the freedom in the tough time. But it looks like Ben Stokes would turn up for Rajasthan Royals this year.

According to a report in Gulf News, the England star is likely to arrive in UAE by the first week of October. The news outlet quoted team sources as saying that the player is expected to arrive early in October, which can see him play 10 of the 14 league matches.

The Royals would definitely love to have Ben Stokes at the earliest. He has been playing for the inaugural IPL winners since 2018. After starring for now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant’s run to the final in 2017, he was signed up by the Royals. So far, he has scored 319 runs and picked up 14 wickets for Royals.

He has been in sensational form since last summer when he powered England to their first-ever World Cup triumph and then helped them draw the Ashes series.

Meanwhile, Jos Buttler, the England wicketkeeper-batsman who is still in quarantine as he arrived separately with his family, is expected to join practice from Thursday. Royals play Kings XI Punjab next in Sharjah on September 27.

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