Huge Setback For CSK! Star All-Rounder Not Fit To Bowl At Start Of IPL 2023

It was Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batting coach Michael Hussey who confirmed that Ben Stokes will play as a specialist batter in the initial phase of the T20 tournament.

It was Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batting coach Michael Hussey who confirmed that Ben Stokes will play as a specialist batter in the initial phase of the T20 tournament.

Source : PTI

CSK in IPL 2023: In what comes as a huge setback for four-time Indian Premier League (IPL) winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK), star all-rounder Ben Stokes will not be fit to bowl at the start of the season due to his knee injury. The English Test captain, who was acquired by MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for Rs.16.25 crore, had suffered injury during England's Test series against New Zealand. After England vs New Zealand 2nd Test got over, Stokes had confirmed his participation in IPL 2023, asserting that he would turn up to play for CSK in IPL despite the England vs Australia Ashes Test series starting just days after the T20 tournament.

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It was Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batting coach Michael Hussey who confirmed that Ben Stokes will play as a specialist batter in the initial phase of the T20 tournament.

"My understanding is he's ready to go as a batsman from the start. The bowling might be wait and see. I know he had his first very light bowl yesterday [Sunday] since he had his injections in his knee," Hussey told EspnCricinfo.

"The physios from Chennai and the ECB are working pretty closely together. My understanding is he won't be bowling much at all in the first few games of the tournament… it might be a few weeks. I'm not 100% sure, [but we will] hopefully get him bowling at some stage in the tournament," he added.

Four-time Indian Premier League (IPL) winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will begin their IPL 2023 campaign against defending champions Gujarat Giants (GT) on March 31 at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium, Friday.