IPL 2021: Ben Stokes to return home and undergo finger surgery, to be out from action for THIS long

In a big blow to England Cricket, Ben Stokes has been ruled out of any cricketing action for at least 12 weeks after repeated X-ray and CT scan revealed a fracture in his left index figure after he suffered an injury during his side Rajasthan Royals' first game in the Indian Premier League (IPL) against the Punjab Kings.

Stokes suffered an injury in his left hand after taking a catch to dismiss Punjab Kings batsman Chris Gayle. Stokes was seen grimacing in pain after taking the catch and even left the field for an over or two to get some treatment on one particular finger of the hand. Although he came out to bat for a three-ball duck, he was later ruled out of the entire IPL.

An England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) release informing the same on Friday said, "Stokes, who is currently in India with Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, will fly home tomorrow. He will have surgery in Leeds on Monday."

Stokes was the second injury blow to the Rajasthan Royals as the franchise sweats over the fitness of their star pacer Jofra Archer, who has just begun training after the successful removal of the glass from his hand.

However, Stokes' replacement in the batting line-up, David Miller did wonders for the Royals as the left-hander playing just his second game for the men in pink played a measured innings of 62 runs off 43 balls after which Chris Morris' innings of 36 off just 18 balls took Royals over the line against the Delhi Capitals in their second game.