ODI captain Morgan fired up over '˜world-beater' Stokes

Morgan, himself briefly back from the IPL to play two Royal London one-day internationals against his native Ireland at Bristol and Lord’s this week, will then return as planned to the sub-continent even though he has been selected only three times so far by Kings XI Punjab.

England’s limited-overs captain also reflected that it would be a “terrible shame” if political wrangles prevent India from defending their Champions Trophy title in this country next month.

But it was Stokes’s astonishing, match-winning maiden Twenty20 hundred for Rising Pune Supergiant on Monday which was uppermost in Morgan’s mind as he pondered how it may take the all-rounder to a new level.

“It was incredible, absolutely incredible,” said the Irishman.

“I landed about two hours after the game had finished, and sat there and watched the highlights in the car on the way home.”

Stokes was confirming the powers which saw him signed in a record-breaking £1.7million deal for his first IPL campaign. Morgan added: “You look at why guys go and play in tournaments like this.

“It’s actually so they can produce performances like Ben’s, and sit in the same team as an Australian captain [Steve Smith] and an Indian legend [MS Dhoni] – and outperform them.

“I think it’s a huge stepping block for us as England cricketers. The challenge is getting to where you’re aspiring to be and then gaining the confidence through that in order to do it again and again.”

Stokes, like his fellow all-rounder Chris Woakes and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, will stay in India this week rather than travelling to take on Ireland.

But his return in time to face South Africa in a three-match series and then the world in the Champions Trophy is a mouth-watering prospect, and Morgan added: “I think this just proves he can compete with the best.

“Rubbing shoulders with the best in the world, outperforming them or growing in confidence from playing with them are two things he’ll have in abundance when he comes back.

“It makes us grow as a group, knowing we have a player who potentially is the best in the world. That’s huge.”x