"Going to be a shame..." - Ben Stokes leaks text to Virat Kohli after latter's retirement

England’s Test captain Ben Stokes has broken his silence on Virat Kohli’s sudden retirement from Test cricket. As India prepares for the blockbuster Test series in England without two of its modern-day giants, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Ben Stokes paid a heartwarming tribute to the Indian legend.

Ahead of the five-match Test series between England and India, Stokes revealed that he personally reached out to Kohli after hearing the news of his shocking retirement from Test cricket, as it was not just a loss for India but for global cricket.

India will miss Virat Kohli: Ben Stokes

Paying his respect to the former Indian captain, the England all-rounder hailed Kohli’s passion, fire, and unmatched energy that turned every Test match into a battlefield. Stokes said that Kohli was a symbol of India’s hunger and dominance in the traditional format of the game.

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Over the years, Stokes and Kohli have been involved in many unforgettable battles, and now that the rivalry won’t be seen again in whites, the England captain said that it is a “shame” for the fans.

Ben Stokes said in a video for the ECB, “What India will miss is his fighting spirit on the field, his competitiveness, and his desire to win. He's made No. 18 his own—we might never see it on the back of another Indian shirt. He's been pure class for such a long time. I texted him saying it's going to be a shame not playing against him this time. I love playing against Virat. We've always relished the contest because we share the same mindset on the field—it's a battle.”

Ben Stokes says Virat Kohli deserves all the accolades

The Englishman praised Kohli for his incredible impact on the game, calling him a "different beast" in white-ball cricket. He also noted that Kohli deserves all the recognition he’s getting, not just in India but around the world. The England captain also admitted that he’s a fan of Kohli’s stylish cover drive, which he believes will be remembered for years to come.

Stokes signed off by saying, “He's been incredible. He deserves all the accolades. No doubt, there's been plenty of praise for him in India and here as well. He's done well in England too. In white-ball formats, he's been outstanding. One thing I'll always remember about Virat is how hard he hits the ball through the covers—that cover drive will live long in the memory.”

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Virat Kohli's Test stats in England

Notably, Kohli has had a memorable performance in England in Test cricket, scoring 1,991 runs in 28 matches with an average of over 42. After a tough 2014 tour, the former Indian captain made a strong comeback in 2018, slamming two centuries and proving his class in challenging conditions.

In 2021, as captain, Kohli led India to remarkable wins at Lord’s and The Oval. Totally, the dashing right-handed batter scored 1,096 runs in 17 tests on English soil at an average of over 33. He is currently playing in the ongoing IPL 2025.