Chennai Super Kings are taking on their arch-rivals Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Match 12 of the Indian Premier League. Chennai’s skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and decided to bowl first. However, the team is entering this game without the services of their star all-rounder Ben Stokes. Keep reading to find out why Ben Stokes is not playing today IPL Match Against Mumbai Indians
Stokes in pain
According to a recent report in The Indian Express, it has been revealed that Ben Stokes suffered pain in his heel after a training session on Friday, which has resulted in him being advised to rest for a minimum of ten days. While the CSK medical team was expected to take a final decision on Saturday afternoon regarding his participation in the crucial match against Mumbai Indians, it is now clear that Stokes will not be a part of the Playing XI.
This comes as a major blow for the Chennai Super Kings, as Stokes, who was purchased for a whopping amount of ₹16.25 crores, has not been able to roll his arm due to a knee injury he had sustained prior to the start of IPL. As a like-for-like replacement, Dwaine Pretorius has been included in the CSK squad. The absence of Stokes from the playing XI may impact the team’s overall performance and strategy, especially given his reputation as an all-rounder and a match-winner.
This means that Chennai Super Kings will not be able to include their stat all-rounder in the next few games. Sisanda Magala, the pacer from South Africa has made his debut for the team as Stokes and Moeen Ali’s absence left two places empty in the Playing XI. Stokes has had a rather disappointing couple of outings in the tournament so far as he has only scored 15 runs in 2 games and was only able to bowl just one over. However, the team management is confident that Stokes will soon be back in the team and find his form as well.
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