As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season approaches, former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has urged Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to “look after” England all-rounder Ben Stokes ahead of the Ashes series.
McCullum, who is the head coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), believes that Stokes’ presence in the CSK squad will be a huge boost for the team and that the franchise should ensure that he is in the best possible condition for the upcoming Ashes series.
Stokes, who is currently playing for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL, is expected to join CSK for the 2023 season. The all-rounder has been in excellent form in the IPL and is expected to be a key player for England in the Ashes series.
McCullum believes that CSK should ensure that Stokes is in the best possible condition for the Ashes series and that the franchise should look after him.
“I think it’s important that CSK look after Ben Stokes. He’s a world-class player and he’s going to be a key player for England in the Ashes series. It’s important that he’s in the best possible condition for that series,” McCullum said.
McCullum also believes that Stokes’ presence in the CSK squad will be a huge boost for the team.
“He’s a great player and he’s going to be a great asset for CSK. He’s a match-winner and he’s going to be a great addition to the team,” he said.
McCullum’s comments come at a time when the IPL is set to begin in April 2023 and the Ashes series is expected to take place in the summer of 2023. It remains to be seen if CSK will be able to look after Stokes and ensure that he is in the best possible condition for the Ashes series.