Virat Kohli's number 18 jersey retired by BCCI; confirmed by Ben Stokes

As the countdown begins for the blockbuster five-Test series between India and England, one iconic figure will be missing from the action, and he is none other than Virat Kohli. Just before the England tour, Virat Kohli shocked fans and rivals by suddenly stepping away from Test cricket. And among those most taken aback is England captain Ben Stokes.

Ben Stokes and the former Indian captain were involved in high-pressure and intense on-field battles across the formats over the years. The fierce competitiveness, the stare-downs, and the clutch moments they shared made fans love the format. With Kohli now retired, Stokes admitted that the battle with India won’t feel the same.

Ben Stokes admits India-England battle won’t be the same as he react to Virat Kohli's Test retirement

Ahead of the five-match Test series opener in Leeds from June 20, Stokes said that India will badly miss Kohli’s fierceness, hunger to win, unmatched energy, and raw aggression that defined an era and made countless Indian comebacks. He also called Kohli a “class” and “incredible” player.

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The England captain acknowledged how weird it will feel to not see number 18 walk out with that trademark swagger. Stokes further noted that playing against Kohli wasn’t just about competition, but it was about the thrill of locking horns with someone who matched his passion.

India will miss Virat Kohli's fighting spirit, competitiveness and desire to win: Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes said in a video posted by England Cricket on Instagram, “I think what India will miss will be his fighting spirit out in the game, his competitiveness, and his desire to win. He's made number 18 his, hasn't he? It would be a bit weird not seeing number 18 out on the back of any Indian shirt.”

Stokes added, “He's been class for them for a long period of time. 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 both have that same mindset when we're out on the field that it's a battle.”

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Ben Stokes pays ultimate tribute to Virat Kohli

Kohli has left behind a massive legacy, especially against England, where he often turned boos into applause with match-defining knocks. The English all-rounder wrapped up his thoughts by calling Virat a class act. He said that the right-handed batter has earned respect not just in India but also from players in England, leaving an indelible mark on Test cricket.

Stokes signed off by saying, “He's been incredible, and I'm sure there's been a lot of praise for him over in India. There's definitely been praise from players over here. He's done really well against England, so he's been a class player.”

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Virat Kohli remains active as ODI player

Notably, apart from Kohli, Rohit Sharma also retired from Test cricket just before the England tour, and now Shubman Gill is India’s new Test captain. Now, Kohli and Rohit have both retired from Test and T20I cricket, but they will continue playing ODI cricket for the Men in Blue.

Both Virat and Rohit’s main goal now is to represent India in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 in South Africa and finish their celebrated careers on a high.

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