England’s Test captain Ben Stokes has issued a stark warning to his own side - and a compliment to India - highlighting that India will miss the “fighting spirit” and intensity of former captain Virat Kohli in the five-match Test series starting June 20 in Leeds . With both Kohli and Rohit Sharma having retired from Test cricket, India’s reliance on a deeper batting lineup will be fully tested.

Speaking through the England and Wales Cricket Board, Stokes praised Kohli as a "class player" whose fiery mindset and cover-drive prowess had made every contest thrilling: "What India will miss is his fighting spirit… You’ve made No. 18 your own… It’s going to be a shame not playing against him".

Stokes- who's just returned to full fitness after hamstring surgery - acknowledged India’s strong batting depth but emphasized the intangible loss of leadership and competitive edge without Kohli .

As India embarks on this series under new skipper Shubman Gill, the spotlight will be on whether the team’s blend of youth and grit can fill the void left by Kohli’s departure.