Ben Stokes is likely to play as a specialist batter at the start of the 2023 IPL and has had a cortisone injection in order to manage an injury to his left knee, ESPNcricinfo understands.Stokes, who was signed for INR 16.25 crore (US$ 1.9 million approx. at the time) as Chennai Super Kings’ costliest signing in an auction, arrived in India last week and has been training with his new team-mates ahead of their season opener in Ahmedabad on Friday night, against defending champions Gujarat Titans.He has managed recurring injuries in his left knee over a number of years, but suffered a flare-up on England’s tour to New Zealand last month, bowling only nine overs across two Tests and batting through clear physical discomfort on the final day of the series in Wellington.Related
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Stokes admitted the injury had been “very frustrating” at the end of the tour, but said that the IPL would represent an opportunity to “get myself into a position that I feel like I don’t have to worry about my knee anymore” ahead of this summer’s Ashes, which starts on June 16.He also confirmed he has a specific diagnosis of the issue, which he declined to reveal publicly. ESPNcricinfo understands that a subsequent scan on the knee came back clear, but Stokes has taken a cortisone injection – a common anti-inflammatory injection which reduces swelling – ahead of the IPL.”My understanding is he’s ready to go as a batsman from the start,” Mike Hussey, Super Kings’ batting coach, told ESPNcricinfo and PA news. “The bowling might be wait and see. I know he had his first very light bowl yesterday [Sunday] since he had his injections in his knee.”The physios from Chennai and the ECB are working pretty closely together. My understanding is he won’t be bowling much at all in the first few games of the tournament… it might be a few weeks. I’m not 100% sure, [but we will] hopefully get him bowling at some stage in the tournament.”Brendon McCullum, England’s coach, has publicly put his faith in the franchise’s “very good medical team” and Stokes’ own ability to “get right for the big moments”. He said after their tour to New Zealand that he would be in touch with Stephen Fleming, Super Kings’ head coach, and his own former international team-mate.