Ben Stokes reveals his text message to Virat Kohli after latter's retirement from test cricket

Virat Kohli retired from test cricket on May 12.

England test skipper Ben Stokes has revealed that he sent a text message to Virat Kohli after the latter announced his retirement from test cricket. Kohli pulled down the curtains on his test career on May 12. Notably, Kohli was expected to be part of India’s squad for the forthcoming test series against England next month.

India will tour England for a five-match test series starting in June. The series will start will the opening game on June 20. According to reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had urged Kohli to reconsider his retirement decision. They wanted him to be part of the test series against England.

However, Kohli opted to retire from the longest format. His retirement came just a few days after Rohit Sharma announced his test retirement. Both of them will only play for the national side in ODIs.

Ben Stokes texted Virat Kohli after his test retirement

In a video by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Stokes said he messaged Kohli following his retirement from tests. He also added that he loved playing against Kohli.

“I texted him saying it’s going to be a shame not playing against him this time. I love playing against Virat. We’ve always relished the contest because we share the same mindset on the field – it’s a battle,” the England all-rounder said.

Stokes also heaped praises on Kohli and added that India will miss his fighting spirit on the field.

“What India will miss is his fighting spirit on the field, his competitiveness, his desire to win. He’s made No. 18 his own – we might never see it on the back of another Indian shirt. He’s been pure class for such a long time,” Stokes further added.

Notably, Kohli is quite famous for his incredible batting show during India’s tour of England in 2018. He smacked two centuries and three half-centuries across 10 innings during the series, which India lost. In 2021, Virat Kohli-led Indian Team bagged two crucial victories in England to end the series 2-1. The last match during the series was rescheduled and played later, which England won.

Kohli had an impressive batting record in England. The right-handed batsman slammed 1096 runs in 33 innings with two centuries and five half-centuries. He quit the longest format with 9230 runs in 210 innings at an average of 46.85. Kohli ended his career as the fourth-highest run-scorer for India in tests.

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