IPL 2023: "Lucknow Super Giants Will Definitely Go For Ben Stokes, Only If They Don’t Get Him, They Will Go For Other Players" - Ravichandran Ashwin

The Indian Premier League (IPL) mini-auction will take place in Kochi on December 23rd.  India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels that Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will surely bid for star all-rounder Ben Stokes. The England Test captain has registered for the IPL 2023 mini-auction, with a base price of Rs 2 crore.

Stokes, who was last bought by the Rajasthan Royals for 12.5 crore in 2018, has not featured in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the last two years. He withdrew from the 2021 season due to a knee injury and did not register for the 2022 tournament.

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Lucknow Super Giants Will Definitely Go For Ben Stokes – Ravichandran Ashwin

The KL Rahul-led team, which has a purse of 23.35 crore, might target Stokes as a replacement for West Indian all-rounder Jason Holder. This statement from Ashwin came after the all-rounder’s match-winning innings in the T20 World Cup final.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, the Indian off-spinner said, “Lucknow Super Giants will definitely go for Ben Stokes. Only if they don’t get him, they will go for other players.”

Ben Stokes played 43 matches in the Indian Premier League. The all-rounder has scored 920 runs with the bat, including two centuries, and picked up 28 wickets with the ball.

CSK Might Also Go For Him – Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin also believes that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) may bid for West Indies wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran as the second wicketkeeper. The veteran spinner noted that if they fail to buy any all-rounders like Sam Curran, Ben Stokes, and Cameron Green.

“I feel as a second keeper, an explosive left-hander, I know he didn’t play well last year, but I feel he will go for a good price, Nicholas Pooran. His resale value will be really high.”

“Even CSK might also go for him because CSK will go for Sam Curran from the Marquee list. They won’t get him. They will go all-out on Ben Stokes as well. They won’t get him as well. They will also go for Cameron Green.”

Pooran has registered for the mini auction with a base price of 2 crore. Last season, the southpaw scored 306 runs in 13 innings for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

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