‘We both love playing against each other’; India to miss Virat’s fighting spirit says Ben Stokes
England skipper and all-rounder Ben Stokes recalls Virat Kohli’s exuberance on the field during the match and comments that India will miss his ‘fighting spirit’ ahead of India’s opening Test against England at Headingley, Leeds, which starts on 20th June. A new face will lead the Indian team, Shubman Gill after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their retirement from Test cricket last month. In a video released by England Cricket, Stokes said on what India will miss after the retirement of Virat Kohli, “I think what India will miss will be his fighting spirit out in the game, his competitiveness, 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.” Stokes shared that when he texted Virat after the latter announced to put an end to his illustrious red ball career. Stokes said, “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 when we are out in the field that it’s a battle.” Kohli retired as India’s fourth-highest run scorer in Test cricket, having scored 9230 runs at an average of 46.85 in 123 matches. He scored 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. His annual average never dipped below 55 in the four years between 2016 and 2019. Additionally, his calendar year average at the end of 2016 and 2017 were both above 75.
Ee Sala Cup Namdu! Virat Kohli’s 18-Year Wait Ends as RCB Clinch Maiden IPL Title
After 18 seasons of unwavering commitment, Virat Kohli finally lifted the Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy! Kohli, who has been the face of RCB since the league’s inception, was visibly emotional post-match. “This win is as much for the fans as it is for the team. It’s been 18 long years. I’ve given this team my youth, prime, and experience. I’ve tried to win it every season, gave it everything I have. To finally have it is an unbelievable feeling,” he shared . Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured their first-ever title with a thrilling six-run victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad . Reflecting on the significance of the victory, Kohli added, “Well, it’s right up there, if I have to be honest. As I said, I’ve given everything that I had for the last 18 years. I’ve stayed loyal to this team, no matter what.” He further added, “This is far more special than winning it with anyone else because my heart is with Bangalore, my soul is with Bangalore. And as I said, this is the team I’m going to play for till the last day that I play the IPL.” In the final, RCB posted a total of 190 for 9, with Kohli contributing a crucial 43 off 35 balls. PBKS, in response, managed 184 for 7 in their 20 overs, falling just short of the target. RCB’s bowlers held their nerve in the death overs to seal the victory . Kohli also paid tribute to his former teammate AB de Villiers, stating, “What AB has done for the franchise is tremendous. I told him, ‘This win is as much yours as it is ours. I want you to celebrate with us.’ He deserves to be on the podium, lifting the cup.” The victory marked the end of a long-standing title drought for RCB and fulfilling the dreams of their loyal supporters.
AB de Villiers retorts to the critics of Kohli after his blistering knock against CSK
His former teammate, South African star AB de Villiers, has taken a bold stand against Virat Kohli’s critics, particularly targeting remarks made by legends Sunil Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag. After Kohli’s sparkling 62-run innings against Chennai Super Kings, helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a narrow two-run victory and the top of the IPL points table, De Villiers remarked, “Virat is always there. He is Mr. Safety for RCB. When he is there, you don’t have to fear. Never fear when Virat is near. That is the story. Nothing has ever changed, and what I want to tell all of you media people, I haven’t forgotten. I have the brain of an elephant. To all my journalist friends out there, I love you guys. But remember when you said Virat bats too slow, right? Virat was batting at almost a 200-strike rate last night. Eat that.” In an Instagram post, Gavaskar and Sehwag questioned Kohli’s strike rate. Sehwag had notably criticized Kohli for scoring the joint-slowest century in IPL history, suggesting he should have accelerated after reaching his half-century. Gavaskar, too, had engaged in a well-documented back-and-forth with Kohli over his scoring pace. Kohli’s performance this season has been nothing short of stellar. He has surpassed the 500-run mark in an IPL season for a record eighth time, amassing 505 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 143.47. His tally of seven fifty-plus scores is his third-best in an IPL season, following 11 such scores in 2016 and eight in 2023. This dominance has placed him at the forefront of the Orange Cap race, narrowly leading over Gujarat Titans’ Sai Sudharsan.
