England test captain Ben Stokes says he opted out of the bidding in the Indian Premier League to prioritize playing international cricket in what he described as the “back end” of his career.

Ben Stokes has revealed he did not to enter the IPL mega auction to strip back his playing commitments as he attempts to prolong the twilight of his career. Stokes was a notable omission from the list of 52 Englishmen signed up for the mega auction in Jeddah for the 2025 competition.

I want to be wearing this England shirt for as long as I can." Stokes has been sold for more than £1m in three IPL auctions and was named the tournament's most valuable player for his spell with Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017. But his more recent career ...

Ben Stokes prioritised international cricket over IPL as he opted out of the 2025 mega auction. Here's why the England skipper made this tough decision.