IND vs ENG: Ben Stokes says Virat Kohli's absence a 'shame', reflects on Indian great's impact
File Pic: Virat Kohli and Ben Stokes
NEW DELHI: England captain
Ben Stokes
has expressed his disappointment at not getting a chance to face
Virat Kohli
in the upcoming Test series against India, calling the Indian maestro's absence a 'shame' for the series and a significant loss for world cricket.
Kohli, who announced his retirement from Test cricket last month, ended a glorious red-ball career with 9,230 runs, 30 centuries, and an average of 46.85 across 123 matches. His retirement, followed closely by
Rohit Sharma
's, has left India in a transitional phase, with 25-year-old
Shubman Gill
set to lead a young squad into the five-match series starting June 20 at Headingley.
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In a video released by England Cricket, Stokes reflected on what India will miss in Kohli's absence: "What India will miss will be his fighting spirit out in the game, his competitiveness, and his desire to win," he said.
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"He has made number 18 his, hasn't he? It'll be a bit weird not seeing number 18 on the back of any Indian shirt, but he has been class for them for a long period of time."
IND vs ENG: Rishabh Pant opens up on chemistry with Shubman Gill and England challenge
Stokes, known for his own fierce competitive spirit, also revealed he had personally messaged Kohli after the retirement news.
"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 have that same mindset - that it's a battle."
Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
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