Sachin Tendulkar has paid tribute to Ben Stokes after the England all-rounder retired from international cricket. Stokes, 35, announced his decision after the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, ending a 15-year international career. He also gave up the Test captaincy, which he held through the Bazball era with coach Brendon McCullum.
Tendulkar’s Message
In a social media post, Tendulkar said he had always admired the energy Stokes brought to the game. He cited his positivity, fearless intent and ability to shape moments under pressure. He called Stokes one of England’s finest all-rounders and said his bold tactics and instinct as captain gave the side a new edge. He signed off by wishing him luck for his next innings, adding that staying away from the middle might be the hardest part.
A Career of Big Moments
- An unbeaten 84 in the 2019 World Cup final at Lord’s, which forced a Super Over and gave England their first 50-over world title.
- An unbeaten 135 against Australia at Headingley later in 2019, set up an Ashes win.
- A key role in England’s 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup triumph.
At Trent Bridge he also became only the second player after Jacques Kallis to complete the double of 7,000 Test runs and 250 wickets.
IPL and What Follows
In the IPL, Stokes played for Rising Pune Supergiant, Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings, scoring 935 runs and taking 28 wickets in 45 matches.
The ECB is expected to look for a new Test captain, with Harry Brook seen as the leading candidate.
