"Virat Made No.18 His Own"- Ben Stokes reacts to Virat Kohli's Test exit ahead of ENG vs IND Test series

The date of the first Test in England is getting closer. Both teams have started their final preparations. In the middle of all this, one discussion is not stopping — the absence of Virat Kohli in the white jersey with number 18 on the grounds of England. Not just the fans, even the England team and their captain Ben Stokes have started missing Virat.

England captain Ben Stokes said it is disappointing not to face a player like Virat Kohli in the Test series. He feels that the absence of this legendary player will take away some of India’s fighting spirit and strong will to win.

Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket last month. Along with him, Rohit Sharma has also retired. Now, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has sent a young team led by Shubman Gill to England.

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Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket before the Test series against England. Before him, Rohit Sharma had also said goodbye to the red-ball format. This was a double blow for India, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named a young team led by Shubman Gill. The first match of the five-Test series between India and England will begin on June 20.

In a video shared by England Cricket, Ben Stokes said what India will miss most after Kohli's retirement. He said that India will miss Kohli’s fighting spirit, his competitive nature, and his strong desire to win. He added that Kohli made the number 18 jersey his own, and it will feel strange not to see that number on the back of an Indian shirt. According to him, Kohli has been brilliant for India for a very long time.

Ben Stokes said - "It'll be weird not to see the Number 18 on the back of any Indian shirt in the Test series. Virat Kohli has made Number 18 his. India will miss his fighting spirit out in the game, his competitiveness & his desire to win". (On Kohli's Test retirement). pic.twitter.com/AMA9F55EUT

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) June 19, 2025

Kohli has always been one of the biggest supporters of Test cricket, especially at a time when shorter formats like T20 are gaining popularity. His love and dedication to the traditional five-day game have always made fans and players admire him. Ben Stokes also values Test cricket and spoke about his respect for Kohli. He revealed that he had sent a personal message to Kohli after hearing about his retirement. Stokes said he told Kohli that it would be disappointing not to play against him again because he enjoys facing him on the field. He said both of them share the same mindset — they treat every match like a battle.

Stokes added that Kohli has been incredible and deserves all the praise he is getting. He believes there must be a lot of appreciation for Kohli in India and confirmed that players in England also respect him. Kohli has always played well against England, and according to Stokes, he has been a class player.