It is a different format, different game, warns Ben Stokes

After being totally outplayed in the Tests, the revamped English unit is back on the Indian soil. This time the formats will change and so will the results, believes allrounder, Ben Stokes. He recently spoke at length at the different propositions for the visitors in the ODIs and T20Is. England have a far more settled unit in limited-overs compared to what they have in Tests.

England will play 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is starting on January 15 on their tour. Stokes mentioned that the team cannot simply look back at the Test series and dishearten themselves. “It is a completely different format, different teams. We can’t really look back on the Test series and take it into this one-day series with us. The Test series did not go well for us and we have a chance to come out here and perform well, like we know,” Ben Stokes was quoted by News18.

He further cited that they have been successful in beating the top teams in the limited-overs in the last year or so. England had made it to the finals of the ICC World T20 last year in India. He also mentioned that the team is keen on focusing on their strengths rather than keeping an eye on the opposition. Speaking about Virat Kohli, he reiterated the same. Kohli was the wrecker-in-chief against England in the Test series.

“We have done in the last two years against really good teams. We know it is going to be tough. We are full of excitement, full of confidence. We are looking forward to it. We will try our best to get him out. He has been in major form, has been over the last year and a half. We try to not concentrate on the other team too much. We concentrate on what we do. The focus is always based on our performance and if someone does well, fair enough, than overload ourselves on too much information about him. We solely concentrate on how we go about winning,” mentioned the English all-rounder.

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Giving a word on MS Dhoni, Stokes called the former Indian skipper a calm character. When asked if Dhoni can be a more dangerous player with no captaincy pressure on him, he said that is yet to be seen. “I don’t know have to wait and see. From watching him, don’t think captaincy affected him much. A pretty calm and cool character.”

Stokes will get into the auction pool for the IPL 2017 this year. The auctions are slated to be held on February 4. He is one of the few English players who will be up for the auctions along with the likes of Jason Roy and Alex Hales. Talking about the IPL, he remarked that he would like to take part in the competition. He wishes to experience the tournament as he has received good feedback from a lot of players. He believes that he will also benefit from the tournament if he gets a chance.

“I have put myself up for the auction. It is a good opportunity to go away experience a different competition. I won’t say we weren’t lucky in terms of the English summer, in terms of its quite hard to get away and go and experience what it is like to play in these T20 leagues. This year’s IPL is a chance not just for myself but to a few other English guys to go and experience what it is like and get a different side of T20 cricket rather than just playing in England. I am looking forward to seeing, if I get a chance,” quoted Ben Stokes.

“They have said it was really good and how much it helped them in terms of cricket, the guys they get to work with, not just players but coaches as well. They have all said they have become better players in doing that. It will do a world of good,” he added further.