Ben Stokes likely to undergo knee surgery post World Cup 2023, could miss India Test series

England's Test captain Ben Stokes in all likelihood will undergo knee surgery after conclusion of ODI World Cup rendering him a doubtful starter for important five-match away series against India next year.

Once a premier all-rounder Stokes has found it hard to bowl this summer due to chronic tendonitis in his knee. He has mostly played as a specialist batter in last three Ashes and will continue to do so in ODI series against New Zealand followed by World Cup in India next month.

Stokes said he plans to sort out his long pending surgery post World Cup but refused to divulge details.

"I kw what's going to happen, I just don't think w is right time to say what I'm doing," Stokes told reporters on Thursday ahead of first ODI against New Zealand.

"I've been having some good conversations with some specialists. re is a plan in place. It's nice kwing after World Cup we've got something, a really good plan we can do and we can stick to." "I want to be playing next summer as a genuine all-rounder. This winter is all about playing this World Cup, n getting this knee sorted," he added.

If England Test captain undergoes surgery post World Cup he could be in a race against time to get fit five-Test series in India, starting January 25.

Any player recuperating from knee surgery could take at least 8-12 weeks depending on nature of operation and time taken for extensive rehabilitation. With a million pound plus IPL contract in his kitty, ideal time of return could well be next year's IPL if one logically calculates time he could take to start playing top-flight cricket once again.

Stokes returns to England's ODI setup after reversing his decision to retire from format to play in World Cup in India, starting October 5 with summit clash slated for vember 19.

Comfortable with players turning down central contracts

With T20 leagues mushrooming all across world, players are increasingly opting out of ir central contracts to play franchise cricket.

However, Stokes is comfortable with players' decisions to opt for lucrative leagues.

"We've got to understand, and I've got to understand as a captain, that re might be some decisions players make and I'm very comfortable and aware that something like that might happen," Stokes said.

"But it's up to individual and I think having a good and clear understanding that landscape of cricket is changing in front of our eyes very quickly, makes things like this a bit easier to understand if players were to choose to do something like that," he concluded. 

Im: AP