England's Test captain Ben Stokes won't be able to participate in the next season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026). The southpaw last featured in IPL for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 2023 season. However, since that season, which was also injury-marred, the all-rounder has missed two seasons of IPL. The T20 tournament's new rule will not make the veteran player eligible to play the world's most lucrative league.
As per IPL's new rules, any overseas player who does not enroll his name in the mega auction won't be eligible to play the league for two years. The said player cannot even enter the mini auction, with exceptions only made during injuries and/or medical conditions, confirmed by the BCCI as well as the IPL governing body.
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The new IPL rule was introduced because a lot of foreign players pulled out at the last minute out of the T20 league, citing family reasons. Harry Brook pulled out of IPL twice after being signed by Delhi Capitals on both occasions. Hence, Ben Stokes will not be able to play the IPL 2026 or the 2027 season.
Ben Stokes over the years in the IPL
The maverick all-rounder made his IPL debut in the 2017 season, playing for the Rising Pune Super Giants franchise. In his debut season, only the southpaw played a starring role as he scored 306 runs and picked up 12 wickets, helping the franchise reach the final of the tournament. He also bagged the MVP award that season.
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However, in later years, Stokes could not replicate that form, and for the CSK franchise, who bagged him for INR 16 Crore, the all-rounder was dismal to say the least.
