No additional pressure because of my price tag: Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes created history when he became the highest paid overseas ever in the history of the IPL when he was picked up by Rising Pune Supergiant in the IPL auctions earlier this year. The English all-rounder believes that he doesn’t feel that he is under pressure of the price tag he carries with himself and the pressure would have been there anyway.

Stokes was seen answering some questions in a video posted by Rising Pune Supergiant Twitter handle.

“I don’t think there is any pressure because I am the most expensive buy. For me, the pressure has always come from within. Also, it doesn’t change the way I am approaching the games. I would have had the same approach even if I wasn’t the most expensive buy.”

Ben Stokes was off to a decent start in the IPL as he scored his first half-century in his second game. Though his contributions couldn’t culminate into an RPS win, his good showings with the bat will provide the much-needed balance to his team.

Stokes, 25, has the opportunity of playing alongside big stars like MS Dhoni and Steven Smith which will be a great experience for his young cricket career.

“You generally get to see them only when they are on the field and sometimes they are completely different characters off the pitch. This is a great opportunity to come and know these guys off the field as that doesn’t happen very often,” he smiled.

When asked about his favourite memories of playing in India, Stokes said that it amuses him how people keep following you around in the hotel lobby or their team bus. The Durham-lad also mentioned that such adulation can never be seen in England.

“I have found it very amusing that the people follow the team bus when we are going to the ground. They seem to follow you in their cars, mopeds and bikes. You want to keep looking at the window as you don’t get to see this in England,” he revealed.

Commenting on his franchise, Stokes said: “The guys are very easy going and I didn’t have much to do back in England and it is good to get on the grass and get some bat on the ball.”

Stokes shot into limelight as a T20 cricketer when he delivered pinpoint yorkers in the 2016 ICC World T20. His performances in the shortest format kept on improving till he was finally bought by RPS.

He did not have the best of performances with the ball against the Daredevils last night as he was thwarted for 41 runs off his 4 overs including 23 runs in the final over – which may have resurrected the ghosts of the World T20 final last year.

He needs to pull his socks up and rely more on yorkers at the death, something which he did successfully in the World Cup last year.

RPS have used Stokes in the middle order and batted him at No. 4 or 5. This will present Stokes with a lot more opportunities to score runs and vindicate his hefty price tag.

.@benstokes38 has been a valuable addition to the team.
Who's excited to watch him play today? Tweet using #Stokes #RangWahiJungNayi #RPSvDD pic.twitter.com/lk6hbkCr9A

— RisingPuneSupergiant (@RPSupergiants) April 11, 2017