The protagonist of England's 2019 World Cup triumph Ben Stokes shocked the cricket world on Monday as he announced his retirement from ODIs. The star all-rounder said that the first match of the series against South Africa will be his last game in the 50-over format. The game will be held at his home ground in Durham on Tuesday. Making the announcement on social media, the talismanic left-hander declared that managing the workload of the three formats was proving “unsustainable” for him and that's why he chose to quit One-Day Internationals. As soon as Ben Stokes released a statement about hanging his boots from ODIs, Virat Kohli took to Instagram to pay a heartfelt tribute to the superstar English cricketer.

“You're the most competitive bloke I've ever played against. Respect,” Virat Kohli said on the popular photo and video sharing platform.

Apart from Virat Kohli, tributes also poured for Ben Stokes from other corners of the world.

“From featuring in an ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup in 2010 to becoming an ICC Men’s @cricketworldcup champion in 2019. A special ODI player, and what a career! Thank you, @benstokes38!” The International Cricket Council tweeted.

“Ben Stokes. ODIs. It’s been an honour,” the Rajasthan Royals said on Twitter.

Ben Stokes was recently anointed as the captain of England's Test team, leading the Three Lions to a 3-0 clean sweep over New Zealand before defeating India in the rescheduled fifth Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham earlier this month.

He said in his statement that England's clash against the Proteas on Tuesday will be his last for the country in the ODIs.

“I will play my last game for England in ODI cricket on Tuesday in Durham. I have decided to retire from this format. This has been an incredibly tough decision to make. I have loved every minute of playing with my mates for England. We have had an incredible journey on the way,” Ben Stokes wrote in his post on Twitter.

“As hard as a decision as this was to come to, it’s not as hard dealing with the fact I can’t give my teammates 100 per cent of myself in this format anymore. The England shirt deserves nothing less from anyone who wears it,” read his statement.

“Three formats are just unsustainable for me now,” he said. “Not only do I feel that my body is letting me down because of the schedule and what is expected of us, but I also feel that I am taking the place of another player who can give Jos and the rest of the team their all. It's time for someone else to progress as a cricketer and make incredible memories like I have over the past 11 years,” Ben Stokes continued.

“I will give everything I have to Test cricket, and now, with this decision, I feel I can also give my total commitment to the T20 format. I would like to wish Jos Buttler, Matthew Mott, the players and the support staff every success going forward. We have made great strides in white-ball cricket over the past seven years, and the future looks bright,” Ben Stokes elaborated.

“I have loved all 104 games I have played so far, I've got one more, and it feels amazing to be playing my last game at my home ground in Durham. As always, the England fans have always been there for me and will continue to be there. You're the best fans in the world. I hope we can win on Tuesday and set the series up nicely against South Africa,” he summed up.

Ben Stokes made his ODI debut for the Three Lions against Ireland in 2011. Since then he has featured in 104 ODI games for England, making 2919 runs at an average of 39.44 and a strike rate of 95.26. He smashed his career-best 102 not out against Australia during the 2017 Champions Trophy in the United Kingdom to send the Kangaroos packing from the competition.

Besides his vital contributions with the bat, Ben Stokes was equally effective with the ball, picking up 74 wickets with a best of 5/61 at an average of 41.79 in the second shortest format of the sport.

Nonetheless, Ben Stokes will always be remembered for his unbeaten knock of 84 in the World Cup final against New Zealand in 2019 as it helped the home team to take the match to a Super Over.

In the Super Over, Ben Stokes was again the man for England as he amassed eight runs off three deliveries to eventually power Eoin Morgan and company to their maiden 50-over World Cup crown. Notably, the competition's first edition was held in England and won by the West Indies in 1975.