Ben Stokes does not have a long contract with the ECB. This is a clue as to where he might be heading in his career. It would not be a surprise if he takes up an IPL gig as a yearly commitment. Teams investing in him could consider it risky but if it comes off, the teams will do well. Here, we take a look at the list of three franchises that could target Ben Stokes as captain in IPL 2025 Auctions.
1) Punjab Kings
Punjab Kings will be looking for a new captain in IPL 2025. Sam Curran is still an option but it is highly unlikely that he will be retained by the outfit.
PBKS will need a settled captain and for that, they could invest in Stokes. He is a quality cricketer and a very rare asset to have. With his captaincy experience, he can add a lot of value to the side.
2) Royal Challengers Bengaluru
RCB is one of the franchises that could target Ben Stokes as captain in IPL 2025 Auctions. Faf du Plessis is likely to hang up his boots soon. That will leave the captaincy slot open at RCB.
RCB will look at a high-profile player to fill the gap. With Andy Flower and Mo Bobat in the management, they might go for an Englishman. Ben Stokes will be a good choice for them. He can be used as an opener or a left-handed middle-order batter, something which RCB lacks right now.
3) Lucknow Super Giants
It will not be a surprise if LSG releases KL Rahul. Nicholas Pooran is available as a captaincy option but he might be too raw for the Indian Premier League.
In this regard, Ben Stokes will be a good choice for the franchise. He can be an opener, as well. With his experience and the guidance from Justin Langer, this team can be really good.
