Ben Stokes will help reviving suspended IPL team on return, says franchise CEO

Reuters: Suspended Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Rajasthan Royals, which makes a comeback this year are pinning their hopes for a relevant return on English all-rounder Ben Stokes.

Ben Stokes 

“We are restarting and putting the reset button. An all-rounder (Stokes) is absolutely important,” said the CEO of Rajasthan Royals, Ranjit Barthakur, when asked if he was concerned if the 26-year-old would be allowed to play because of his ongoing legal tussle which had cost him a place in the national team for Ashes.

The franchise has paid an enormous sum of INR 125 million ($ 1.97 million) for Stokes making him the most expensive player in this edition so far.

Rajasthan, along with Chennai franchise was suspended from the richest domestic Twenty20 league, in 2015, following a spot fixing row and are making a comeback this season after serving a three-year ban. “Buzzing to be representing @rajasthanroyals in this years IPL and great to be playing alongside @josbuttler,” tweeted Stokes, who was judged IPL’s Most Valuable Player last year when he represented the Pune franchise.

National team mate and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler joined Stokes at Rajasthan but England captain Joe Root found no taker on the opening day of the two-day auction. Australian players, once again, earned big bucks ahead of the 11th edition of the Twenty20 league beginning in April.

Kolkata bought Australia’s limited overs specialist Chris Lynn for INR 96 million and their Ashes hero Mitchell Starc for 94 million, while Delhi secured the service of all-rounder Glenn Maxwell for 90 million.

Two-time IPL champions Chennai retain du Plessis, buy all-rounder Bravo

Reuters: Two-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Chennai Super Kings on Saturday (27 January) bought T20 stalwart Dwayne Bravo of West Indies and retained South African skipper Faf Du Plessis as they prepare for their return to the cash-rich Twenty20 tournament after a brief hiatus.

Chennai and Rajasthan, who bought England all-rounder Ben Stokes for $ 1.97 million in Saturday’s auction, return to the league after a two-year suspension following a corruption scandal.

Punjab acquired the services of Yuvraj Singh at his base price of INR 20 million after no other franchise showed any interest in the World Cup winner.