The 16th season of the Indian T20 League is set to kick off on March 31 with a high voltage clash between MS Dhoni led-Chennai and Hardik Pandya’s Gujarat. Ahead of their season opener against Gujarat Chennai has revealed their Jersey for the season. After a disappointing season in 2022, Chennai is looking to make a comeback in the tournament this year. The team has made some exciting additions to its jersey and squad as they have added England’s Test skipper Ben Stokes.
In an event on Wednesday Chennai revealed their Jersey. They also handed Shirt number 55 to Ben Stokes who will be participating in the tournament with Chennai for the first time. Stokes was roped in by the yellow squad for a whooping sum of INR 16.25 crore. Meanwhile, Chennai also handed the yellow jersey with number 21 back to Ajinkya Rahane. Earlier, the jersey with number 55 was worn by Kieron Pollard while he represented Mumbai.
Notably, Chennai has plenty of all-rounders in the squad as they have roped in Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, and Star India allrounder Ravindra Jadeja. With these amazing talents and experience Chennai will look to make a strong comeback and win the title for a record fifth time.
Ben Stokes will only bat in the initial games
Although, days before the tournament in a big blow to Chennai Ben stokes is only going to play as a batter in the initial games of the league. Reportedly Stokes is rehabbing from a knee injury and that will force him to only play as a batter. However, the southpaw brings an immense wealth of experience and a fighting mentality with him and that will surely help Chennai to clinch the trophy.
Meanwhile, Stokes is also looking up as a future leader as this season might turn out as a last dance for former India skipper MS Dhoni. The 41-year-old wicketkeeper batter has given his everything to the franchise since the inaugural season of 2008. Meanwhile, fans react to Stoke’s jersey number. A Twitter user said, “Bhai apne aap ko Kieron Pollard samjhta hai.”
Here are some Tweets:
All the hype just to see him flop ?
— STON.POST (@ston1post) March 29, 2023
Purple Cap with 55 wickets loading for Ben Stokes ?
— Paritosh Kumar ? (@ParitoshK_2016) March 29, 2023
First innings score 55+ hopefully for him?
— Varshini Jain (@jain_varshii) March 29, 2023
Waiting For Stokes Storm?
— Basayya S Nagayyanavar (@basayya_s_n) March 29, 2023
Best of luck Stokey ???
— Aqib Majid ? (@aqibibnmajid) March 29, 2023
Mid number
Mid team— ? ? ? ?? (@mid_619) March 29, 2023
Bro thinks he's pollard ?
— Peter Quill (@i_peterquill) March 29, 2023
Ben Stokes is father of chokli and whole haaRCB ?.
— Cat Bro ? (@SuperBro07) March 29, 2023
Wrost day of his life ?
— Danish ???? (@Sillent_01) March 29, 2023
Player of the Tournament loading
— abhixhek (@abhishekdhital_) March 29, 2023
???????? of Green & curran
— AR (@31_FOREVER_) March 29, 2023
Finished T20 player
— Santhoshkumar Sks Thalapathy Veriyan? (@SksThalapathy45) March 29, 2023
Yellow jersey not looks so good on stokes
— Ethan Hunt (@Huntlondon46) March 29, 2023