Ben Stokes flies home from IPL to begin recovery from broken finger

Stokes departed the IPL bubble on Friday night for the long trip back, as he prepares for surgery on the digit, which he damaged while taking a catch to dismiss Chris Gayle

Ben Stokes has left the Rajasthan Royals camp and flown home to the UK to begin his rehabilitation from a broken finger.

Stokes departed the IPL bubble on Friday night for the long trip back, as he prepares for surgery on the digit, which he damaged while taking a catch to dismiss Chris Gayle in the Royals' opening match of the tournament against Punjab Kings.

He will be helped through his recovery back home by the England medical department but looks set for up to 12 weeks on the sidelines.

That will mean Stokes missing the two Tests against New Zealand and much of the white-ball series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Rajasthan paid tribute to Stokes on social media.

A Twitter post from the franchise read: "The allrounder flew back home last night after a scan revealed that he'll have to undergo surgery on his finger. Speedy recovery, champ."

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