Sachin Tendulkar paid an emotional tribute to Ben Stokes on Monday, June 29, as the cricketing world continued to react to the England all-rounder’s surprise retirement from international cricket. Stokes announced his decision after the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, bringing an end to a remarkable 15-year England career and a memorable four-year spell as Test captain.

Tendulkar praised Stokes for the energy, intent and boldness he brought to the game, while also highlighting the impact he made as both an all-rounder and a leader. The Indian great said Stokes stood out for his fearless approach in pressure situations and for the way he changed the mood of matches with bat, ball and attitude.

“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.

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“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.

.@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

Stokes leaves the international stage with a legacy packed with defining moments. His unbeaten 84 in the 2019 World Cup final at Lord’s helped England force a Super Over before they went on to win their maiden ODI title. Later that same year, his unbeaten 135 at Headingley became one of the most celebrated innings in Ashes history. He was also part of England’s 2022 T20 World Cup-winning squad.

The England star also became only the second player in Test history, after Jacques Kallis, to complete the rare double of 7,000 runs and 250 wickets. He reached that milestone against New Zealand at Trent Bridge on Friday, June 26, underlining just how complete a cricketer he has been.

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In the IPL, Stokes represented Rising Pune Supergiant, Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings, finishing with 935 runs and 28 wickets in 45 matches. With Stokes now retired, England are expected to begin the search for a new Test captain in the coming weeks, with Harry Brook emerging as the leading candidate to take over.