Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket came as a shock to the cricketing world. The former India captain was widely regarded as the torchbearer of the longest format. While he thrived in white-ball cricket, it was red-ball cricket that he truly cherished. Even after his forgettable 2014 tour of England – where he managed just 134 runs in 10 innings – Kohli doubled down on his Test ambitions.
Four years after that, he came back to English soil in a big way, scoring 593 runs from 10 innings in 2018. Kohli not only regained his form but also spearheaded a fast-bowling revolution of Indian cricket. As captain, India became the first Asian team to win a Test series in Australia. His aggressive, fiery style of cricket captured hearts everywhere.
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In recent times, Australian great Greg Chappell called Kohli the “most Australian non-Australian cricketer,” a tribute to his never-say-die attitude and aggressive approach. It’s something that resonates with many, including present England Test skipper Ben Stokes, who confessed he’ll miss playing against Kohli in the current India-England Test series.
“India will miss his spirit on the pitch – his competitiveness and his unforgiving will to win,” Stokes said to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). “He’s turned the number 18 jersey iconic. It’ll be odd not seeing it on an Indian jersey. He’s been pure class for an extended period of time,” he further added.
Stokes and Kohli share similar traits – both are fiery, fiercely competitive, and give everything on the field. Their battles over the years have become iconic, full of intensity and mutual respect. While Kohli’s absence might make India slightly less formidable, Stokes confessed he’d have preferred to go head-to-head with the Indian great one more time.
“I messaged him, saying how sad it is that we won’t play each other again. I love playing against Virat,” Stokes said. “We both feed off competition. It’s always a war when we’re out on the pitch together. He’s been phenomenal. I know he’s got lots of acclaim in India, and deservedly so – but there’s massive respect for him over here in England as well. He’s always played us really well. He’s a class act.”
