IPL 2023: Ben Stokes is a match-winner – Sanjay Manjrekar feels the all-rounder will be in high demand in mini-auction

Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar has showered praise on Ben Stokes. Manjrekar said Stokes is a match-winner and he is going to be in high demand in the upcoming IPL 2023 mini-auction. Stokes recently played a match-winning knock of unbeaten 52 runs off 49 balls against Pakistan in the all-important T20 World Cup final at the MCG.

The all-rounder has always proved his mettle in the big matches and also scored 84 runs in the 2019 World Cup final against New Zealand. Manjrekar believes a lot of teams will be eyeing Ben Stokes in the auction as he has the skills to deliver in the playoff stages.

Stokes had last played in the IPL in the 2021 season. He had only played only one match before he was ruled out with a finger injury. Subsequently, Stokes missed the previous season as he had taken a mental break from the game.

The left-hander has scored 920 runs in 46 IPL games at a strike rate of 134. He has also taken 28 wickets in the lucrative T20 league.

Speaking on Star Sports, Manjrekar said: “Ben Stokes, straight away. No. 1. He is a match-winner. If you make it to the playoffs, the big stage, these are the people who come to the party.”

On the other hand, Sam Curran also impressed in the T20 World Cup. Curran returned with figures of 3-12 in the final against Pakistan and thus he was awarded the Player of the Match. Furthermore, Curran took a total of 13 wickets in seven matches at an average of 11.38 and an economy rate of 6.50 and was awarded the Player of the Tournament.

Manjrekar added Sam Curran has an Asian player’s quality and ergo he will be a handful in the Indian conditions.

“Sam Curran is a very interesting English player who has a lot of Asian quality in the way he bowls. So he would ideally be picked by a team that is going to play a lot of home games where the bounce is a little low and the pitch is a bit slow.

“That is why CSK used him beautifully when he had a big season with them. That would be a consideration.”

IPL 2023 auction will take place in Bengaluru on December 16.