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Ben Stokes could be up for auction in Indian Premier League

Ben Stokes IPL Generic batting
Image: Stokes signed a £1.7m deal with Rising Pune Supergiant last year

Ben Stokes could be up for auction in the Indian Premier League again this year, as the franchises begin to form their squads for the tournament’s 10th year.

Stokes has been cleared by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to play in the competition if he wishes.

The all-rounder, who is missing from England's Ashes campaign as he waits to hear if he will be charged with actual bodily harm after a fracas in Bristol in September, has returned to Durham for "family reasons" after spending a month in New Zealand with Canterbury Kings.

Ben Stokes celebrates one of his three wickets
Image: Stokes has taken 12 wickets in 12 matches and has a 33.60 batting average in the IPL

Stokes could now return to the IPL for another multi-million pound fee having signed a £1.7m deal with Rising Pune Supergiant last year.

Ahead of the IPL player auction later this month, the franchises announced the players they were retaining on Thursday, with David Warner (SunRisers Hyderabad) and Steve Smith (Rajasthan Royals) among those to be kept on.

Ben Stokes has been playing on the domestic stage for Canterbury
Image: The England all-rounder has been playing on the domestic stage for Canterbury in New Zealand

Reigning champions Mumbai Indians have retained Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, while Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers will once again play for Royal Challengers Bangalore and MS Dhoni has been re-selected by Chennai Super Kings.

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Elsewhere, Dehli Daredevils have announced Ricky Ponting as their new head coach.

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