England Test captain Ben Stokes is likely to stay away from the IPL 2025 mega auction. He may miss the 18th season of the IPL as he focuses on Test cricket. He did not register for the IPL 2024 auction to concentrate on the Ashes. The star all-rounder played his last IPL match in 2023, appearing in just two games for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) that season. CSK had acquired Stokes for a hefty sum of ₹16.25 crore during the auction, but he was unable to participate in most matches due to injury.
Stokes Needs to Manage Workload
According to a report by The Telegraph, Stokes’s decision not to enter the IPL 2025 mega auction indicates that he is considering focusing entirely on white-ball cricket. He last played a T20 international during the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. However, the 33-year-old all-rounder returned to ODI cricket after retiring from it, making a comeback in the 2023 ODI World Cup. He has hinted at resuming ODI play. Stokes has a busy schedule ahead in 2025, as England is set to play Test series at home and abroad against India and Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle. For Stokes, managing his workload as an all-rounder is crucial, especially after his recent injury return.
Was He ‘Forced’ by This Rule?
The last date for registration for the IPL mega auction is Sunday (November 3). Stokes’s withdrawal from the auction is also being attributed to a special rule by the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) concerning foreign players. In the past, several English and Australian players have cited fatigue and other priorities, leaving their franchises after being selected in the IPL auction. The BCCI can now impose a two-year ban on any player who withdraws after being picked in the auction. Stokes made his IPL debut in 2017 and has played 45 IPL matches, scoring 935 runs at an average of 24.61, along with taking 28 wickets.