Ben Stokes reveals why he skipped IPL 2025 auction & chose a 2-year ban from cash-rich league

Stokes has entered the IPL auction three times, fetching an average of Rs 14.41 crore each time.

Ben Stokes knew what stood on the line, and yet when the time came, he decided to pass out on the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction. The England Test captain has entered the auction thrice and become the most expensive player twice (Rs 14.50 crore in 2017 and Rs 12.50 crore in 2018). The time he wasn’t the top buy, Stokes was the third-most expensive pick at Rs 16.25 crore (2023). Despite knowing he can fetch more than what he has in the past, the all-rounder decided to skip the mega auction. Why? To prolong his England career.

Stokes wants to “look after his body”

It’s not about skipping a big payday, but as per new IPL rules, Stokes won’t be able to enter the IPL 2026 mini-auction either. The all-rounder is reaching an age where many cricketers nowadays refuse to accept a national contract and instead ply their trade in the franchise circuit. But Stokes doesn’t want to do it, even if it means missing the IPL for three back-to-back years (2024-26).

Fitness has been an issue for him for a while, and that’s exactly why he didn’t feature for the Chennai Super Kings last season. Given the amount of Test cricket England plays and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 also arriving, Stokes found it best to prioritise which tournament he plays and which he doesn’t.

“[There is] just so much cricket. There’s no hiding behind the fact that I’m at the back-end of my career. I obviously want to play as long as I possibly can. Looking after my body and looking after myself as much as I can is key to that,” Stokes told BBC Sport in Christchurch.

SA20 over IPL for Ben Stokes

Stokes will also feature in the SA20, a tournament he hasn’t played before. The South African event runs a little less than a month, starting on January 9 and ending on February 8. Unlike the IPL which is 2-month long at the minimum, this allows Stokes to find the right balance between international and franchise cricket.

“[It is about] prioritising games and when I do play – obviously I’m in South Africa this year – so it’s about looking at what I’ve got ahead and making the decision that I think is right for me to be able to prolong my career as long as possible. I want to wear this England shirt for as long as I can.”