New Delhi: England’s all-rounder Ben Stokes has been bagged by Rajasthan Royals for whopping Rs 12.5 crore in the IPL Auction 2018. Stokes is a high-profile player currently in World cricket and has guided England to crucial wins in the global circuit. He has been termed as ‘match winner’ numerous times and has the abilities to turn the game around with both bat and ball.
IPL 2018 Auction Live Updates: Ben Stokes Goes to Rajasthan Royals For 12.5 Cr, RR Use RTM For Ajinkya Rahane
Stokes, an explosive batsman, decent bowler and an agile fielder, was also the talk of the town during the last IPL for being purchased at whopping Rs 14.5 crores by Rising Pune Supergiants thus making him the most expensive overseas player in IPL history. The all-rounder justified his price tag and scored 316 runs at a strike rate of 142.99 and even grabbed 12 wickets. Stokes even won the ‘Most Valuable Player’ of IPL 2017 award.
However, Stokes was recently involved in a controversy related to an incident outside a Bristol nightclub in September due to which the English player was not allowed to play in the recently concluded Ashes. However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) allowed Stokes to take part in the cash-rich league.
Stokes can prove out to be worth every penny but the only thing that might not work in the favour of the all-rounder is his form as in the last four to five months, he has not played any competitive cricket apart from a brief stint with Canterbury in New Zealand.