Ben Stokes, one of England’s top all-rounders, was notably absent from the IPL 2025 mega auction held in Jeddah, Abu Dhabi on November 24 and 25. His decision to skip the auction means he won’t be part of the IPL until at least 2026, when he’ll be 35 years old. This marks a significant choice for Stokes, given his history as one of the league’s most expensive players.
Stokes opted out of the auction after missing IPL 2024 due to injury and workload management. Despite his impressive IPL record, where he scored 920 runs across 43 matches at a strike rate of 134.50, Stokes has made the decision to prioritize his international career. Under the new IPL rules, overseas players must register for the auction to be eligible for future seasons, but Ben Stokes chose not to do so.
In an interview with BBC, Ben Stokes explained, “There’s just so much cricket. I’m at the back-end of my career. I obviously want to play as long as I can. Looking after my body and myself is key to that.” His focus now is on playing for England as long as possible, while managing his body.
Although he won’t play in the IPL, Stokes will participate in South Africa’s T20 league, SA20, for the first time. The league, running from January 9 to February 8, has a shorter schedule than the IPL, allowing Stokes to balance franchise cricket with international commitments.
Stokes’ absence from the IPL reflects his focus on longevity and his desire to represent England in more international cricket.
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