Ben Stokes vs Virat Kohli: Who was the better Test captain?

Ben Stokes and Virat Kohli are widely regarded as two of the most inspirational leaders in recent times who championed Test cricket when the format was at its most vulnerable. However, both greats have now stepped down from the longest format of the game with commanding legacies of their own.

Kohli stepped down as India’s Test captain in early 2022 after a series defeat to South Africa. Stokes, on the other hand, not only left his captaincy behind but also decided to retire from international cricket after England’s 2-1 series defeat to New Zealand on home soil in June 2026.

Both Kohli and Stokes had striking similarities in leading their respective sides out in Test cricket. Both players were talismanic and enjoyed being aggressive and the centre of attention out in the field. Which begs a question: who was the better leader between the two heavyweights in Test matches?

Both Kohli and Stokes have some similarities in their captaincy styles, but there are a few differences in how they channel their aggression. Kohli’s style prioritised fitness and not giving the opposition an inch. He put relentless pressure with the help of fast bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. Meanwhile, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma also had career rejuvenation under his captaincy. Kohli also flourished as a batter under his captaincy, enjoying the added responsibility.

Stokes, on the other hand, gave extensive freedom to his players to express themselves on the field and stay true to their natural game, particularly the batters. Under his leadership, England batted at a better run-rate compared to any of their counterparts, with the likes of Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Harry Brook taking the Test batting to new heights. Stokes encapsulated a fearless brand of cricket by taking bold declaration calls and not worrying about the prospect of failure.

It is safe to conclude that both Kohli and Stokes had tremendous success as Test captains of India and England, respectively, taking the game to new heights. However, based on the Men in Blue’s excellent away record under the right-handed batter’s captaincy, Kohli gets a slight edge over the English all-rounder. Stokes, however, would still go down as one of England’s best Test captains of all time.