England all-rounder Chris Woakes opened up on opting out of the IPL 2023 auction. Saying that he had to do that to have the best shot at making the Test team for the Ashes 2023 at home. Woakes might not have gotten a million-dollar bid. But he would have been sought after at the IPL auction later this week in Kochi. Woakes, who was injured during the home Test season, will instead play for Warwickshire in the County Championship.

“It wasn’t an easy decision, by any means. There’s still a part of me that wishes I could go because the IPL is a great tournament. Financially it could be very rewarding – but I didn’t want to make the decision solely on finance. “It’s a tricky scenario: having just won a World Cup, potentially stock could be high. There are obviously some other players who are likely to go big but I could have been next on the list behind them. Woakes might not have gotten a million-dollar bid. But he would have been sought after at the IPL auction later this week in Kochi.

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It wasn’t easy for me, but have to take this call- Chris Woakes

“I had conversations with a lot of people and some with franchises as well, who sounded keen, which made it harder to pull out. But having not played any cricket in the English summer last year. It’s a good opportunity for me to set myself up for, hopefully, a really strong summer with England,” Woakes told. Woakes has played for KKR, RCB and most recently, Delhi Capitals in the IPL. Woakes said an honest conversation with ECB managing director Rob Key also contributed to his decision.

“I still don’t think it’s fully sunk in. It’s an amazing feeling to be world champion.”

#YouBears pic.twitter.com/cB5VoXcVmN — Warwickshire

(@WarwickshireCCC) December 10, 2022

“He was very clear that I was still a part of the Test plans but obviously I needed to get myself fit and get my knee right,” Woakes, who was part of England’s victorious T20 World Cup squad, added. I could go because the IPL is a great tournament and financially it could be very rewarding – but I didn’t want to make the decision solely on finance. “It’s a tricky scenario: having just won a World Cup, potentially stock could be high. But having not played any cricket in the English summer last year, it’s a good opportunity for me to set myself up for, hopefully, a really strong summer with England,” Woakes told.