Ben Stokes Reflects on Virat Kohli's Impact Ahead of Test Series

As the Indian cricket team gears up for a Test series against England, captain Ben Stokes shares his thoughts on the significant absence of Virat Kohli. Stokes highlights Kohli's competitive nature and fighting spirit, emphasizing how his departure will affect the team dynamics. With both Kohli and Rohit Sharma retiring from Test cricket, the responsibility now lies with younger players like Shubman Gill. Stokes expresses his personal disappointment at not being able to compete against Kohli, noting their shared mindset on the field. Kohli's impressive Test career, marked by over 9,000 runs, has left a lasting legacy in Indian cricket.
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Ben Stokes Reflects on Virat Kohli's Impact Ahead of Test Series

Stokes Acknowledges Kohli's Absence

Ben Stokes, the captain of the England cricket team, has expressed his admiration for Virat Kohli's competitive spirit, noting that India will feel his absence in the upcoming five-match Test series against England. With both Kohli and Rohit Sharma stepping away from Test cricket, the onus now falls on the younger players, particularly Shubman Gill, to lead the Indian squad.


Stokes remarked, "India will certainly miss his fighting spirit, competitiveness, and winning mentality. Kohli has made the number 18 jersey iconic, and it will be strange not to see it on an Indian player. He has been a class act for them for many years."



Stokes added, "I reached out to him via text, expressing my disappointment at not being able to compete against him. I enjoy our matches because we share a similar mindset on the field; it feels like a battle every time we play."


Kohli's Test career concluded with him being India's fourth-highest run-scorer, amassing 9,230 runs in 123 matches with an average of 46.85. Moving forward, both Kohli and Rohit Sharma will focus solely on One Day Internationals, aiming for participation in the 2027 ODI World Cup.


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