There’s always respect between us: Ben Stokes likens Virat Kohli rivalry to Novak Djokovic-Nick Kyrgios duel

England Test captain Ben Stokes has opened up about his relationship with Virat Kohli, saying the two cricketers are intense on the field but are good mates off it. Stokes pointed out that cricketers have mutual respect for each other and being part of some high-octane contests is part of their job.

Virat Kohli and Ben Stokes are two of the most pulsating characters in world cricket. If Kohli brought intensity and excitement to the Indian Test team when he took over as captain, Stokes has been leading England’s Test revival. When the two cricketers met during the rescheduled 5th Test in Birmingham, Kohli kept having a go at England cricketers with Stokes also getting involved in flared-up exchanges.

However, when Stokes retired from the ODI format earlier this year, Kohli was among the first ones to send a message to the England all-rounder, calling him ‘the most competitive bloke’ he has faced on the field.

Ben Stokes elaborated about his relationship with Virat Kohli, playing down the intensity with which the two cricketers face each other.

“To be honest, Virat and I don’t really come across each other that much. We’ve played Test cricket against each other and in IPL. In the time that we have spent together, albeit very small, it’s fine. When you’re out on the field, it’s me against the opposition or it’s me against an individual. You’ve got to separate the two – the on-field competition and off it.

“It’s not a case of where we are little children and when if we do have a bit of a go at each other on the field, as soon as we are off it, it’s just back to two individuals who are in the same room together, and it’s fine,” Stokes told Hindustan Times.

Furthermore, Ben Stokes likened his relationship with Virat Kohli to the one that tennis superstars Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic share. Djokovic and Kyrgios gave it all in the Wimbledon final but the Australian star respects the Serb, a 21-time Grand Slam champion.

“Look, sport produces amazing contests not only between teams but you also have those battles and contests between individuals. But at the end of the day, there is always respect between oppositions, between individuals, and it’s just in our sports.

“Just an example – you look at Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios. They have obviously had a huge rivalry but still at the end of the day, there is always that respect there between the two professional athletes. That’s the same for us and through sports.

You are always going to have a battle and trying your hardest to win a game. But when it comes to the end of it, there is always that respect and that’s what great sport. One sportsman respects the other,” he added.

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