Sachin Tendulkar pens emotional tribute to Ben Stokes after England star's retirement

Jun 30, 2026 - 12:45

Legendary India batter Sachin Tendulkar paid an emotional tribute to Ben Stokes on Monday, June 29, days after the England all-rounder announced his retirement from international cricket following the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.

Tendulkar's message arrived as cricket fans and former players continued to react to Stokes' shock decision, which brought an end to a 15-year England career and a four-year stint as Test captain. The 35-year-old had led England's red-ball revival through the Bazball era alongside head coach Brendon McCullum since 2022.

Tendulkar reflected on Stokes' impact both as a player and as a leader.

"I've always admired the way you brought energy into the game. Your positivity, your fearless intent, and the way you shaped moments under pressure stood out every time you walked in. As an all-rounder, you've been one of England's finest, and as a captain, your bold tactics and instinctive reading of the game added a new edge to your side," Tendulkar wrote on X.
"Wishing you the very best for what comes next. Though knowing you, staying away from the middle might be the hardest part. Good luck for your next innings!" he added.

Check Sachin Tendulkar's tribute to Ben Stokes here

.@benstokes38, I’ve always admired the way you brought energy into the game. Your positivity, your fearless intent, and the way you shaped moments under pressure stood out every time you walked in. As an all-rounder, you’ve been one of England’s finest, and as a captain, your… — Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) June 29, 2026

What does Ben Stokes leave behind after 15 years of international cricket?

Stokes retires having delivered some of the biggest moments in modern cricket history. His unbeaten 84 forced a Super Over in the 2019 World Cup final at Lord's, helping England win their maiden 50-over title, while his unbeaten 135 against Australia at Headingley later that year remains one of the defining innings of the Ashes era. He was also part of the squad that lifted the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Stokes also joined Jacques Kallis as only the second player in Test history to complete the double of 7,000 runs and 250 wickets, a landmark he reached against New Zealand at Trent Bridge on Friday, June 26.

In franchise cricket, Stokes represented three Indian Premier League teams, turning out for Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017, Rajasthan Royals from 2018 to 2021, and Chennai Super Kings in 2023, finishing with 935 runs and 28 wickets from 45 matches.

The ECB is expected to begin the search for England's next Test captain in the coming weeks, with Harry Brook being the frontrunner to lead the side after Stokes' departure.