With India preparing to battle England in a high-octane five-match Test series that will start on June 20, England skipper Ben Stokes has conceded the huge vacuum created by the retirement of Virat Kohli from red-ball cricket.
Addressing the media before the first Test at Headingley, Stokes called Kohli a ruthless competitor whose absence would certainly be noticed on the field.
India is stepping into a new chapter of its cricketing journey with a revamped squad led by young Shubman Gill, following the retirement of two Test greats — Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli — last month. The tour also marks the start of the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for both teams.
In a video shared by England Cricket on Instagram, Stokes reflected on Kohli’s impact, saying,
"I believe what India will miss is his battling qualities out on the pitch, his competitiveness, win desire. He has made number 18 his, hasn't he? It'll be a bit strange not seeing number 18 on the back of any Indian shirt, but he has been class for them for a long, long time."
Kohli ended his 14-year Test career with 9,230 runs in 123 Tests at 46.85 and 30 centuries. He also captained India in 68 Tests, becoming the nation's most successful Test captain with 40 wins — fourth on the all-time list in the history of the format behind Graeme Smith, Ricky Ponting, and Steve Waugh.
Stokes, who has shared numerous on-field scraps with Kohli, said he himself spoke to the Indian legend directly after he announced his retirement.
"I did send him a text, saying it's going to be a shame not to play against him because I love playing against Virat," added Stokes. "We both enjoy playing against each other because we both have the same mindset when we are out in the field — that it's a battle."
He again condemned Kohli's legacy and the respect he enjoys worldwide:
“He has 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 too. He’s done really well against England, so yeah, he has been a class player.”
The impending Test series will mark a new era in Indian cricket. With Gill leading the charge, the young Indian team has a tough English tour, with the five matches lined up at prestigious grounds:
- 1st Test: June 20 – Headingley, Leeds
- 2nd Test: July 2 – Edgbaston, Birmingham
- 3rd Test: July 10 – Lord's, London
- 4th Test: July 23 – Old Trafford, Manchester
- 5th Test: July 31 – Kennington Oval, London
India will be hoping to end a 17-year-long drought, their last Test series win coming here in 2007. With Kohli and Rohit now out of the team, the burden now rests with a new generation to take the baton forward.
