SOUTH AFRICA BATSMAN AB de Villiers feels that England all-rounder Ben Stokes took his game to the next level in IPL-10.
De Villiers showered praise on the 25-year-old for his all-round performance for the Rising Pune Supergiant. Stokes picked 12-wickets and scored 316-runs in 12 games for the Pune franchise. As reported by AFP, ABD termed Stokes as a ‘fantastic’ player and said,
"Stokes is a fantastic cricketer, with both bat and ball. He's definitely got something special about him. A lot of guys lose their way in the IPL, and others find the next level in their game. Ben Stokes definitely lifted his game and I think it would have done him the world of good.”
The ‘Mr.360’ stressed that the cash-rich league has improved many of his players too.
“A few of our players who played over there lifted their game. I faced (leg-spinner) Imran Tahir in the nets and he's certainly stepped his game up a bit, and come up with a few new deliveries, and so has everyone else who was there."
Ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy in England, the 33-year-old added that he is desperate to win the major tournament.
"I remember thinking in 2015 they had hit rock bottom. The way they came back from that earned a lot of respect around the world. I haven't won one of these trophies in my career, so I'm pretty desperate to win one, and we'll do anything we can to get out on top."