Rising Pune Supergiant's Ben Stokes plays a shot during the IPL match against Gujarat Lions on Tuesday. PTIBen Stokes has proved why he got the maximum money at this year's Indian Premier League (IPL) player auction. The English all-rounder has played a major role in Rising Pune Supergiant being on the verge of the play-offs.
After a dismal outing last season in which Pune finished seventh in the eight-team competition, the team management was determined to buy Stokes at any cost. They believed the match-winner could be just the player they needed to change their fortunes and the 25-year-old has lived up to the expectations.
Stokes, Unadkat star in Pune's 12-run win over Hyderabad | Pix
Stokes, who was picked up for a whopping Rs 14.5 crore, has repaid the faith by winning three man-of-the-match-awards from the 10 matches that he has played. He missed a couple of matches due to a shoulder strain.
Stokes has been at his best both with the ball and bat as well as on the field. He has come to the rescue of his skipper Steve Smith in the death overs and has been simply sensational with his fielding. He has produced vital runs too, none better than his match-winning unbeaten hundred against Gujarat Lions in a high-pressure chase.
Big-hearted performer
Stokes gives his all on the field and the Durham player can never be faulted for lack of trying. He has a big heart and is ready to bounce back from setbacks. A lesser player would have been shattered after the mauling he received at the hands of West Indies' Carlos Brathwaite in the final of last year's ICC World T20 in Kolkata when he failed to defend 18 in the last over. But Stokes has been better for the experience and has been a revelation at the death in the ongoing IPL. He is pacey and can bowl the fuller deliveries at will, and as a result the batsmen find it tough to get him away. His triple strikes - when he accounted for Shikhar Dhawan, Kane Williamson and David Warner - went a long way in Pune winning a thriller against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday. Earlier, he had propped up the Pune innings with a 33-ball 39.
Coming into the IPL, there was enormous pressure him to deliver. He has been the single biggest factor in Pune's stunning revival in which they have won seven of their last eight games. He has scored 283 runs at a strike rate of 144.38 and scalped 10 wickets at an economy rate of 7.43.
Big players raise their game when stakes are high and the Pune team management will be hoping that Stokes' best is yet to come as the IPL reaches its business end.
