Ben Stokes, the captain of the England Test team, shared his views on Virat Kohli’s recent retirement from Test cricket, just ahead of the much-awaited five-match Test series between India and England. He expressed that India will deeply miss Kohli’s energy and determination on the field.
With India beginning their World Test Championship 2025–27 campaign against England, they will do so under the leadership of Shubman Gill, as both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have recently stepped away from Test cricket.
While Rohit ended his Test journey first, Kohli followed soon after. Stokes stated that Kohli’s presence on the field was more than just about runs; it was his attitude and intense desire to win that stood out.
“I think what India will miss will be his fighting spirit out in the game, his competitiveness, and his desire to win. He has made number 18 his, hasn’t he? It’ll be a bit weird not seeing number 18 on the back of anyone of any Indian shirt, but he has been class for them for a long period of time,” he said, praising Kohli’s contribution.
Stokes Shares Personal Message to Kohli
In the same interaction, Stokes revealed the message he had sent to Virat Kohli after hearing about his retirement. Their rivalry on the pitch has always been marked by fierce competition and mutual respect. According to Stokes, both players shared the same aggressive approach to the game and looked forward to facing each other.
“I did text him, saying it’s going to be a shame not to play against him because I love playing against Virat. We both love playing against each other because we have that same mindset when we are out in the field—that it’s a battle,” said Stokes.
This insight shows the admiration between top athletes who thrive on competitive spirit, and how much Stokes valued Kohli as an opponent.
Kohli’s Test Legacy and Contributions
Virat Kohli’s retirement marks the end of a remarkable chapter in Indian Test cricket. Over his career, Kohli scored 9,230 runs in 123 Tests, making him the fourth-highest run-scorer for India. He averaged 46.85 and notched up 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries.
In England, where conditions often challenged batters, Kohli managed 1,096 runs in 17 Tests, including 593 runs in the 2018 series alone. Despite a noticeable dip in form over the past five years, especially against moving balls outside off, Kohli remained a key player. Filling the No. 4 spot after Sachin Tendulkar, he scored 7,564 runs at an average of 50.09, proving his worth as India’s backbone in Tests.
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