Ben Stokes shares emotional message sent to Virat Kohli following his Test retirement

Ben Stokes has expressed his respect for Virat Kohli and his sincere gratitude for the Indian legend’s contributions to red-ball cricket. It would be very frustrating to not have Kohli in the forthcoming five-match series between England and India, Stokes said in a text message to the former Indian captain, explaining why he cherished his fights with the Indian captain.

“On the pitch, India will miss his competitiveness, his determination to win, and his fighting spirit. We may never see No. 18 on the back of another Indian shirt since he has made it his own. For so long, he has been the epitome of elegance. It will be unfortunate not to play against him this time, I texted him. Playing against Virat is thrilling for me. In a video released by the ECB, Stokes said, “We’ve always enjoyed the contest because we share the same mindset on the pitch – it’s a battle.”

He has been amazing. He is deserving of all the praise: Ben Stokes

Along with his incredible skill in India, Ben Stokes also spoke of Kohli’s illustrious Test career in England. He also talked about his cover drive, which he said he will remember for years to come.

“He has been amazing. All the praise is due to him. He has undoubtedly received a lot of appreciation both here and in India. He has also performed well in England. His performance in white-ball formats has been exceptional. One thing that will stick in my memory for a long time is how hard Virat smacks the ball through the covers,” Stokes continued.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who both retired from Test cricket last month, will not be playing for India against England. It is unclear how India would fare in the challenging English environment. On June 20, the red-ball series is expected to begin.