Ben Stokes: 'India Will Miss Virat’s Fighting Spirit on England Tour'

England captain Ben Stokes has paid tribute to Virat Kohli ahead of the upcoming five-match Test series between India and England, starting June 20. With Kohli and Rohit Sharma recently retiring from Test cricket, India will be led by Shubman Gill. In a video released by England Cricket, Stokes highlighted Kohli’s fighting spirit and unmatched passion for the game, saying, “India will miss his competitiveness, desire to win, and the presence of that number 18 shirt.” 

Kohli retires as India’s fourth-highest run-scorer in Tests, with 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85 in 123 matches, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties. His dominance was especially evident between 2016 and 2019, when his yearly averages never dipped below 55, peaking above 75 in 2016 and 2017. His departure marks the end of an era for Indian Test cricket.