England Test captain Ben Stokes recently underwent surgery to address persistent issues with his left knee, a concern that hindered his ability to bowl in the last three Ashes Tests this year.
This setback prompted Stokes, aged 32, to participate solely as a specialist batter in the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup held in India, where he returned from his retirement from the format.
Sharing an update via his social media platforms, Stokes posted a photo of himself using crutches outside Cromwell Hospital in London. Accompanying the image was a caption indicating the completion of the surgery, stating, "In and out. Under the (knife emoji) done. Rehab starts now."
With an eye on regaining full fitness, Stokes is aiming to be ready for England's upcoming five-match Test series in India, scheduled from January 25 to March 11 next year. The matches are set to take place across venues in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Rajkot, Ranchi, and Dharamshala.
Notably, Stokes made the decision to withdraw from the 2024 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to effectively manage his workload and prioritize his fitness. Despite being the Chennai Super Kings' priciest signing for the 2023 IPL season at INR 16.25 crores, he participated in only two matches before facing sidelining due to injuries, ultimately missing out on the rest of the league stage.
(With Agency Inputs)
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