Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has lauded England’s star all-rounder, Ben Stokes, for his remarkable performance that rescued England from a precarious situation in their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 clash against the Netherlands. On November 8, England emerged victorious against the Dutch, winning by a substantial margin of 160 runs at the MCA Stadium in Pune.
Chopra expressed his admiration for Stokes’ invaluable contribution in a video on his YouTube channel, highlighting how Stokes singlehandedly kept England’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions Trophy alive. Stokes marked this momentous occasion by notching his maiden ODI World Cup century in the match against the Netherlands.
“Ben Stokes finally made his mark in the tournament by scoring a century, and in doing so, he breathed new life into England’s Champions Trophy qualification campaign, which had seemed almost doomed,” remarked Aakash Chopra. He emphasized that England had been struggling to find their stride, and Stokes’ century was a much-needed boost.
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Aakash Chopra also pointed out that while Stokes and Dawid Malan managed to put runs on the board against the Dutch, the other English batsmen failed to perform consistently. England is in contention for a place in the 2025 Champions Trophy, alongside Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Netherlands.
“Stokes and Dawid Malan delivered, but the likes of Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Harry Brook, and Joe Root couldn’t contribute substantially. This tournament has been quite different from their previous campaigns, and Joe Root’s dismissal symbolized their struggles,” added Aakash Chopra.
Despite England’s underwhelming performances, Chopra praised Stokes for stepping up and saving the day for his team. He noted that there had been discussions about releasing Stokes from World Cup duties to keep him fresh for the upcoming five-Test series against India.
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However, Stokes not only scored a century but also played a pivotal role in steering the team well past the 300-run mark, with additional contributions from Chris Woakes. Following their victory against the Netherlands, England’s focus now shifts to an upcoming clash with Pakistan, scheduled for November 11 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. While England’s journey in the World Cup 2023 has been less than stellar, the team remains determined to make the most of their remaining matches.
