IPL 2023: 5 franchises that could pick Ben Stokes in mini auction
Ben Stokes is one of the finest all-rounders in world cricket and franchises could go for a bidding war to sign him.
1. Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals went on to a bidding war at the 2018 IPL auction to sign Stokes and eventually grabbed the ace all-rounder at a staggering sum of INR 12.50 crore. The 31-year-old was a vital cog to the Rajasthan setup as he added depth to the side with his all-round might.
Stokes was associated with RR till the 2021 season. During his stint with the franchise, the swashbuckling cricketer aggregated 604 runs in 31 games and bagged 16 wickets for the side. Given he has been a proven performer for Rajasthan, Sanju Samson & Co. could look to reinvest in him at the forthcoming auction.
Moreover, James Neesham and Daryl Mitchell, who were the batting all-rounders picked by Rajasthan at the previous mega auction, were not able to set the stage on fire with their displays. Neesham could manage just 31 runs in two outings and was not able to have any impact with the ball. Mitchell, on the other hand, scored mere 33 runs in two matches. With the duo failing to make the most of the opportunities, it is a high possibility that Rajasthan would try to include Stokes in their squad.
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