Ben Stokes undergoes successful knee surgery ahead of Test series vs India in January

England all-rounder Ben Stokes underwent a successful knee surgery. The Test captain took to Instagram to announce the update and said that he would move into the rehabilitation stage now that the surgical procedure was complete. Stokes will now race against time to get fully fit ahead of the 5-match Test series against India, which starts late in January 2024.

The England Test captain had opted to go under the knife after his performance was significantly impacted throughout the 2023 season. Stokes’ knee affected his game time and bowling performance, in particular, through the Indian Premier League, till the World Cup 2023.

Ben Stokes had been grappling with a persistent knee problem over the past 18 months. The England Test captain faced chronic tendonitis in his left knee, which not only limited his bowling capabilities but also forced him to adapt his role within the team.

Stokes’s knee issues came to the forefront during England’s tour of New Zealand in February, where he struggled to perform at his best due to the injury. Despite a cortisone injection in March and a period of rest while playing minimally for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, his knee did not fully recover. This led to a significant reduction in his bowling during the Ashes series, where he delivered only 29 overs and refrained from bowling in the third and fourth Test matches.

The situation necessitated England to reconfigure their team composition to include five bowlers alongside Stokes, who played primarily as a specialist batter.

The impact of the knee problem was evident during the ODI World Cup 2023, where Stokes could not bowl and England’s performance suffered, failing to reach the semifinals. Acknowledging the hindrance caused by his knee issue, Stokes expressed his determination to undergo surgery post-World Cup with the hope of regaining his all-rounder status for the upcoming Test series against India in January.