India very weak without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma? Ben Stokes drops bold statement

As India is all set to unveil a new Test captain and the squad that is expected to feature a fresh generation of cricketers, the England skipper Ben Stokes has made it clear that they don’t mistake their transition for weakness in the upcoming high-stakes Test series.

Even with the iconic batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli stepping away from Test cricket, Ben Stokes reckoned that India’s revamped lineup must be as dangerous as it used to be. Stokes said that England is not going to take India lightly because of Rohit and Kohli’s retirement.

Ben Stokes warns England don’t underestimate India’s new Test era

While many believe the absence of Rohit and Kohli is a blow to India's strength, Ben Stokes feels a new storm is about to emerge. With India’s new-look Test squad for the England tour set to be announced on May 24, the captain also warned England against underestimating India’s bench strength.

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Ben Stokes said at the press conference, as quoted by Sky Sports, “We always look to get at the opposition during a test, and we look and see how we can adapt. They have had two big retirements in Rohit and Kohli, who have been such an important part of the Indian team and all the success that they have had. But India's battery of batters is just incredible.”

Stokes has already seen firsthand during his IPL stints just how loaded the Indian system is with fearless, explosive batters waiting in the wings to seize their moment.

You can't take India lightly despite Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's retirements: Ben Stokes

The star all-rounder added, “When I have spent time in the IPL, they have batters coming out of their, can't say that word on the interview, but you know what I mean. You can never take any Indian team lightly despite the fact that they're without two of their greatest batters.”

The Englishman admitted that India is always a strong team, but their current focus is on the upcoming one-off Test against Zimbabwe. England is hosting Zimbabwe in a Test match for the first time since 2003. The one-off game will be played at Trent Bridge from May 22.

Stokes signed off by saying, “India is a very good team wherever they go in the world. We will be focused on the Zimbabwe game now, but as we get closer and closer to the India series, our focus will shift to them. It will be a long, tough summer. We know what we have got.”

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Brendon McCullum urges England players to build a stronger bond with fans

Earlier, England head coach Brendon McCullum urged his players to build a stronger bond with their fans as they prepared for a hectic schedule. He believes that some recent comments and performances may have made the team seem disconnected from the public.

England will kick off their summer with a four-day Test against Zimbabwe, followed by a five-match home Test series against India. Later this year, they head to Australia for the much-anticipated Ashes 2025, hoping to finally win an away series after a long wait.

McCullum wants the players to not only focus on results but also to remember the importance of staying grounded and connecting with those who support them in all thin and chin.