Ben Stokes has received a cortisone injection to treat an injury to his left knee and will probably commence the 2023 IPL as a specialist batter.
Stokes became the most expensive signed player of Chennai Super Kings in an auction for INR 16.25 crore (roughly US$ 1.9 million at the time), arrived in India last week, and has been practicing with his new teammates in preparation for their season opener against the Gujarat Titans on Friday night in Ahmedabad.
He has long struggled with left knee problems, but on England’s recent tour of New Zealand, he experienced a flare-up, delivering just nine overs over two Test matches and batting on the final day of the series in Wellington while obviously in pain.
At the end of the tour, Stokes acknowledged that the injury had been “very frustrating,” but he added that the IPL would offer a chance to “get myself into a position that I feel like I don’t have to worry about my knee anymore” before the Ashes this summer, which begin on June 16.
He also acknowledged that he has a precise diagnostic of the problem, which he chose not to make public. Stokes has received a cortisone injection ahead of the IPL despite the fact that a subsequent scan on the knee reportedly revealed no problems. Cortisone is a popular anti-inflammatory injection that lowers swelling.
According to Mike Hussey, the batting coach for the Super Kings, “he’s ready to go as a batsman from the start.” “We’ll have to wait and see about the bowlers. Since receiving his leg injections, he had his first very light bowl yesterday, according to what I know.
“The ECB and the Chennai physiotherapists are collaborating fairly closely. According to what I gather, he won’t be bowling very much in the tournament’s opening games. It could take several weeks. Although I’m not certain for sure, we will ideally have him bowl at some point during the competition.
England’s head coach, Brendon McCullum, has publicly expressed his confidence in the group’s “very good medical team” and Stokes’ capacity to “get right for the big moments.” After their trip to New Zealand, he promised to get in contact with Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming and his own former international teammate.
