The tenth season of IPL 2017 is coming to a climax and the picture of the final four team is getting clear with each passing game now.

As we all know Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders have already qualified for the playoffs. Sunrisers Hyderabad are almost there as well. And the race for the last spot is between Rising Pune Supergiant and Kings XI Punjab has about come and it will be interesting to see who makes the cut between these two teams.

But, here is a big trouble for the RPS team and it’s fans! With Rising Pune Supergiant on the verge of making it to the knockout stage, the Pune-based outfit has suffered a massive blow.

Yes, the most expensive English player in the Indian Premier League history — Ben Stokes — is likely to miss the play-offs of the ongoing edition of the league, even if Rising Pune Supergiant manages to seal a place in the top half of the table.

And it has become quite a tough time for Steve Smith and MS Dhoni to think how to manage the things now in the team for its good performance in the coming matches of IPL 2017 playoffs.

Now that the questions like, who will strengthen the middle order with power-packed hitting? Who will leave the batsmen quaking in their boots with some lethal death bowling? And who will add fuel to Rising Pune Supergiant’s ecstatic run chases? Both Steve Smith and MS Dhoni probably don’t have answers to these questions because Ben Stokes will no longer be part of the RPS line-up for the PlayOffs.

As per reports, the English all-rounder is supposed to join his national team England for a three-match ODI series against South Africa which starts on May 24. But before that, he should join the Three Lions for two practice matches on May 19 & 21.

However, Stokes has been in scintillating form this season, both with the bat and the ball and has done justice to his astronomical price tag of Rs 14.5 Crores.

In 10 matches, Stokes has slammed 283 runs, which includes one century and one half-century. While he has also picked up 10 wickets so far in the season.

What do you say about this? Do you think Steve Smith nd Dhoni can manage this loss? Let us know your views in the comments section below.

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