Ajinkya Rahane: ‘We will miss Ben Stokes’

The Rising Pune Supergiant batsman hopes his team will cope well with the absence of Imran Tahir and Stokes in the play-offs.

Ben Stokes has been crucial to Supergiant’s success this season.

As if Imran Tahir's loss wasn't a jolt for Rising Pune Supergiant closer to the qualification, the team will be without all-rounder Ben Stokes for the play-off stage. The England all-rounder followed the Protean leg-spinner to join his national team and will not feature in the remaining tournament.

Ajinkya Rahane hoped that the team will cope with the absence of both the players who have played a vital role in Pune turning the last year's tide around and finishing the league stage in the second position. “We will definitely miss Stokesy because he has done really well for us in both the batting and bowling and as well as in fielding. But we have got a few internationals who are experienced and have done well in this format,” Rahane said.

“Lockie Ferguson has done well in the one game he played and Usman Khawaja is here. We are not sure who we'll play once Stokesy is gone. But all the Indian players are doing well. We are not thinking about missing them. They (Stokes and Tahir) both are our main players but I am sure we'll do well without them in the play-offs.”