Ben Stokes out for three months due to fractured index finger

Ben Stokes suffered a jolt in IPL 2021 when he injured his arm in Rajasthan Royals’ opening game vs Punjab Kings. However, in a statement by the ECB, Stokes has been ruled out of action for at least three months. The reason, for surgery on his left index finger. The statement read, “England all-rounder Ben Stokes will be out for up to 12 weeks after a repeat X-ray and CT scan on Thursday revealed that he has a fracture of his left index finger,” Stokes said.

The England all-rounder will leave for England on April 17. The surgery will take place in Leeds. The incident occurred during the Punjab innings as Stokes went forward to complete the catch off Punjab batsman Chris Gayle. Stokes was visibly in pain. Even though he did come out to bat in the Rajasthan innings, he fell for a three-ball duck to Mohammed Shami. Rajasthan Royals lost by four runs but staged a recovery when they won by three wickets against Delhi Capitals.

Troubled times for Stokes

The year 2020 has not been kind to Stokes. The all-rounder missed most of the series against Pakistan as he wanted to be with his father Ged Stokes, who was suffering from brain cancer. On December 2020, Ged Stokes died at the age of 64. 

However, Stokes did enjoy the time of his life in 2019. He helped England lift the World Cup for the first time. In the final at Lord’s, he smashed 84 as England tied with New Zealand. The Super Over was also tied but England were declared the winners due to a superior boundary count.

In the 2019 Ashes, Stokes blasted 135 and shared a partnership of 76 with Jack Leach for the final wicket as England won a miraculous match at Leeds by one wicket. The exploits by Stokes led to Wisden terming him as the ‘Leading Cricketer in the World’.