New Delhi: Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Ben Stokes took the Indian Premier League by storm in 2017 as he finished his debut season in the cash-rich league with 316 runs and 12 wickets from 12 games.
However, post the high of that opening season, the Englishman struggled in 2018. And even this year, he has managed to score just 112 runs and picked six wickets from 8 games. But for the all-rounder, it is more important to move on, be the past bright or gloomy.
Commenting on the performance of the Royals, Stokes said: “I wouldn’t quite say up and down as that would be a bit generous. We haven’t performed anywhere near to the capabilities that we have. The games we have won, we have won the critical moments and it is a shame that we have managed to do that in just two games. The big thing this year is that we haven’t managed to win the critical moments.”
Stokes has himself had a rough ride, but the all-rounder feels that it comes with playing sport as ups and downs are a part and parcel of a cricketer’s life.
“I think everybody would want to be consistent, but you take it as it comes. Everyone wants to go out and do their best every time, but sometimes it doesn’t come off and you just wipe out that part. Also, if you do well, you can’t live off that,” he smiled.
Asked if the episode wherein Kings XI Punjab skipper R. Ashwin ‘Mankaded’ batsman Jos Buttler changed the course of Royals’ campaign this season, Stokes begged to differ.
“It is an easy thing to say, but it was just one of the situations that we were unfortunate to be involved in. Saying that impacted us would be an easy thing to say, but we haven’t really mentioned it as such and we just haven’t been good enough,” he acknowledged.
IANS
