During the auctions before IPL-2017, when RPS paid an exorbitant Rs. 14.5 Crores to buy Ben Stokes, cynicisms were rife. There was a clear concern that it is yet another impulsive purchase by a franchise.
No doubt that Stokes is immensely talented, but then Rs. 14.5 Crores is no small sum. At the top of it in T-20, people remembered him more for those four sixes, he conceded on his bowling in the last over of T-20 World Cup final last year.
There are reasons behind this scepticism. Franchises are habitual thoughtless buyers. Remember how huge money was thrown to snap Stokes’s fellow countrymen Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Peterson in 2009 IPL. Both however were complete flop and could not even prove 1/10th of the money spent. Pawan Negi was bought for a huge sum of Rs. 8.5 Crores last year by DD but he failed miserably.
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Just when people thought that Stokes would be next in this class, he played a monumental knock against GL on 1st May and with one match he brought the whole value on table of his franchise for the money he received. His 103 of 63 balls knock can be tipped as the greatest ever IPL knock while chasing. Scoring 103 out of team total on 167 explains that how gigantic the knock was.
It was a delightful chase to watch. Stokes along with Dhoni controlled & built the innings, very competently. After Dhoni departed, Stokes took complete control of the innings and finally sealed the match.
The match against GL was match of immense importance. It virtually pushed RPS to the playoff and GL to the ouster (sort of quarter final match).
Stokes peaking at the right time is a great sigh of relief for RPS. Out of touch Dhoni has already got his winning mojo with bat back. He is traffic behind the stumps as usual.
With Ben Stokes in form, RPS got that missing link in the lower-middle of their batting order, which can be something of huge significance as tournament is entering in to decisive phase.
With Dhoni and Stokes in form, and Manoj Tiwari among the runs as well over the past few matches, RPS act of redemption continues after ordinary start in IPL 2017.
The only sour point remains is Ajinkya Rahane at the top of the order. If Rahane also joins the party then RPS can very well be a side to beat.
Notwithstanding what happen to the RPS, this is Ben Stokes’s movement. He has arrived at top of T-20 with a big thud. Let’s all hail him for the moment.
(The author is NewsMobile iJourno)