'Saying Goodbye To Dad Was Tough': Ben Stokes Returns To Cricket With Family's Love

Ben Stokes Soon To Play For RR in IPL 2020: Rajasthan Royals started their journey in the IPL with two consecutive wins. But after the initial round of the tournament passed, the Rajasthan Royals team looked absolutely out of touch. The Royals have lost their last three matches.

Photo Courtesy: ANI (@ani_digital/ Twitter)

England cricket team's star all-rounder Ben Stokes revealed that his ailing father was the one who asked him to return to playing cricket by taking part in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Stokes withdrew from the home Test series against Pakistan due to his father's illness. He moved to his father in New Zealand who is suffering from brain cancer.

After spending five weeks with his family, Stokes, who was signed with the Rajasthan Royals, has reached the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is currently in isolation.

Rajasthan Royals started their journey in the IPL with two consecutive wins. But after the initial round of the tournament passed, the Rajasthan Royals team looked absolutely out of touch. The Royals have lost their last three matches.

Actually, both the top order and the middle order of the team have completely failed in the last three matches. Rajasthan Royals have high hopes from world number one all-rounder Stokes.

Ben Stokes arrived in the UAE last week. But due to the quarantine period, they will not be available for Rajasthan Royals in the match against Delhi Capitals on 9 October.

"Sitting in a hotel room in quarantine once again after leaving New Zealand is not how I thought I would be arriving at the IPL, but here I am and all things considered, I'm in a good place," Stokes wrote in a column for The Mirror. "Saying goodbye to my dad, my mum and my brother in Christchurch was tough. It has been a difficult time for us as a family, but we've pulled together and supported each other as best we can. "And I was able to get on the plane with my parents' love and blessing after we reached the decision, for me to get back playing, as a family with no external influences," he added.

ALSO READ | Major Setback To Kolkata Knight Riders In IPL 2020 As US Seamer Ali Khan Gets Injured Stokes described the conversations with his mother when he initially came to New Zealand as the toughest. He also spoke of how his father reminded him of his cricketing responsibilities. "I didn't know what dad wanted, I didn't know what mum wanted so to start that conversation off was the hardest thing of all. And then mum made it simple, she said: 'The time you are spending here now with your dad is so much more important than the time you will spend when the worst happens.' "That is a tough thing to hear, but when it comes from your mum and your dad is reinforcing that message, then it makes things a lot easier to deal with. "My dad was also very strong on the responsibilities I have. He told me I have a duty to do the job that I do and I have a duty as a husband and father as well. We gave it all a lot of thought and talked it over at length, and we came to a decision that now sees me back focusing on the game," said Stokes.

Rajasthan Royals captain Steve Smith spoke about the availability of Ben Stokes ahead of the match against Mumbai Indians. Smith says that Ben Stokes will play only after October 10. It is clear from Smith's statement that on 11 October Sunrisers will be seen playing Ben Stokes in the match against Hyderabad. This will be Ben Stokes first match in IPL 13. However, before that, two Covid 19 reports of Ben Stokes have to come negative.