India, May 22 -- England Test captain Ben Stokes has paid heartfelt tribute to Virat Kohli, speaking about the immense void India will face in the upcoming Test series without their former captain's fierce fighting spirit and intense competitiveness. Kohli's sudden decision to retire from Test cricket, announced on 12 May, came as a shock to many, especially with India preparing for a challenging five-match series in England starting 20 June.

Stokes revealed that he personally texted Kohli after learning of his decision to step away from the format he cherished most.

"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 m...