Exclusive: Stokes is willing to miss next season’s Indian Premier League in order to help England’s World Cup defence
Ben Stokes is prepared to make a sensational U-turn and reverse his one-day international retirement to help England’s World Cup defence in India this year, even if it means missing out on next season’s Indian Premier League.
Stokes retired from ODI cricket last year but England always hoped that he could return for this World Cup. The England Test captain now appears willing to play in the World Cup if he is asked by white-ball captain Jos Buttler.
While concerns linger over Stokes’s knee, which might require an operation at some stage, Telegraph Sport understands that he would be prepared to miss next season’s IPL if he needed a gap in his schedule to help him recover.
Stokes has a lucrative IPL deal, worth £1.6 million a year, but he is believed to be willing to risk missing next season’s competition to help England’s World Cup defence.