Il capitano dell’Inghilterra Ben Stokes rende omaggio a Virat Kohli in vista della serie di test indiani-inglese
While India gear up for the high-profile five-match Test series against England, one name that will be conspicuously absent from the Indian lineup is Virat Kohli. The former India captain stunned the cricketing world with his sudden retirement from Test cricket last month, just weeks before the England tour.
Rohit Sharma also bid adieu, and in his absence, Shubman Gill is set to lead a new-look Indian side. However, the void left by Kohli—India’s fourth-highest run scorer in Tests—remains enormous. Kohli has had an impressive record in England, touring the country three times and scoring over 979 runs in just 15 matches. In fact, only legendary Indian batsmen like Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, and Rahul Dravid have managed to score more runs in England than Kohli. This is despite the fact that Kohli had a horrible 2014 tour, scoring a mere 134 runs in 10 innings.
Ben Stokes’ tribute to former Test player Kohli
Ben Stokes, England’s Test captain and all-format talisman, opened up about Kohli’s retirement in a video released by England Cricket, revealing a personal message he sent to the Indian great.
“I did text him that 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. We both have that same mindset on the field, you know; it’s a battle. He’s been incredible. I’m sure there has been a lot of praise in India, and definitely there has been praise here (England). He’s done really well against England; he’s a class player,” Stokes added.
Stokes described Kohli as “incredible” and “a class player”, acknowledging the fierce but respectful rivalry they shared. Kohli scored 1960 Test runs against England, often delivering when it mattered the most, especially in challenging English conditions.
“I think what India will miss will be his fighting spirit out in the game, his (Virat Kohli) competitiveness, and his desire to win. He has made number 18 his, hasn’t he? It’ll be a bit weird not seeing number 18 on the back of anyone… of any Indian shirt, but he has been class for them for a long period of time.”
Kohli, who retires with 9230 Test runs, 30 centuries and a legacy of fearless cricket, may no longer walk out in whites. However, he had a massive say in India’s red-ball legacy. He was perhaps the most successful captain in the format for the country, and it is a shame that he ended without joining the 10,000-run club.
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