In a recent interview, Ben Stokes, the Test captain of the England cricket team, compared his role in the victorious IPL campaign of his team CSK to that of the legendary footballer John Terry. Stokes drew parallels with Terry's iconic moment when he donned his Chelsea kit and lifted the Champions League trophy in 2012, despite being suspended for the final against Bayern Munich.
During his press commitments at Lord's, Stokes discussed his contribution to CSK's IPL triumph, stating, "I played a role similar to John Terry in winning the IPL." The all-rounder, who was acquired by the CSK franchise for a hefty sum of INR 16.25 crore, was unfortunately limited to just two matches due to a toe injury. His last appearance came in April against the Lucknow Super Giants.
Following his return to the UK, Stokes found himself at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, where he watched his team's inspiring victory over the Gujarat Titans on his mobile phone while enjoying some time in the bar. The English team was staying at the hotel ahead of their one-off match against Ireland.
Stokes has been cautious with his bowling workload, acknowledging that he has a limited number of overs remaining in his career. "Previously, I didn't have to worry about that. I could bowl as much as I wanted and arrive at matches feeling fresh. Now, I need to be more mindful, and managing the workload between matches is crucial," he explained in an interview with ESPNCricinfo.
The cricketer emphasized that he doesn't require extensive bowling sessions to maintain his overall fitness. "I can take considerable time off and then quickly ramp up my training. It's not a cause for concern whether or not I bowl in this game," Stokes added.
Stokes noted that his injury and subsequent return from the IPL provided him with an opportunity to focus on his training. "While I would have preferred to be playing, I saw it as a chance to concentrate on training rather than playing and gradually exhausting myself throughout the tournament," he revealed.
He further elaborated, "Once you're in the midst of a tournament, it's a cycle of playing and traveling. Therefore, this disappointing situation actually turned into a positive one, allowing me to fully concentrate on training—whether it's refining my batting technique, fitness routines, gym workouts, or diverting my attention to other aspects of my game."
In summary, Stokes discussed his John Terry-like role in CSK's IPL triumph, his limited bowling approach, and how his injury setback allowed him to focus on training, turning it into a productive period for his overall game development.
Also watch: Dwayne Bravo & Kieron Pollard's hilarious banter after CSK's IPL win