CSK coach Stephen Fleming shed light on why England all-rounder Ben Stokes has been warming the bench as the Chennai Super Kings are readying for their final IPL 2023 league stage game against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Saturday.

Ben Stokes, who was bought by CSK for INR 16.25 crores in the IPL 2023 auction, played the first two games of CSK's season, making 7 and 8 and conceding 18 runs in his only over with the ball. He last played for the MS Dhoni-led side on April 3.

Then he was initially ruled out due to a toe injury, but since then he has not been able to break into the playing XI. Stokes has been available for selection again in the last week but CSK has opted to use Devon Conway, Moeen Ali, Matheesha Pathirana, and Maheesh Theekshana as their four overseas players instead.

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ESPNCricinfo reported that he will return to the UK after their final group game against Delhi Capitals on Saturday afternoon, having previously indicated that he would "give myself enough time to get back and play" in England's Test against Ireland at Lord's on June 1.

And after CSK's home defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday night, Fleming revealed that Stokes is being seen as "batting cover" and that the franchise is unlikely to "chop and change" ahead of their final group game.

"Ben's ability to bowl overs at the moment is still a bit of a challenge, but he's there as that batting cover. But with Moeen bowling well in good conditions - we go to Delhi [next] which has been turning - we think the balance of the side has been right.

And look, we're second on the table, so it's not our style to chop and change just because we've had a loss where things didn't go our way. We won't do that. We might tinker with it but we're very focused on getting the right team for Delhi,” Fleming said.