Virat Kohli Honors Kane Williamson's Remarkable Cricket Journey

A Heartfelt Farewell from Virat Kohli

In a touching tribute, Indian cricket star Virat Kohli expressed his admiration for New Zealand's Kane Williamson, who recently announced his retirement from international cricket. Kohli emphasized the respect and friendship that has developed between them over the years of fierce competition on the field.

Taking to X, Kohli shared, "From being rivals to becoming friends over the years, it has been a joy to witness your batting prowess and compete against you. More importantly, I treasure our friendship and the insights we share about the game and life. Every conversation and meeting is something I hold dear. I wish you all the best, brother. You’ve made your mark, and now it’s time to relax and enjoy life. Well done, mate; this is just the beginning."

From an opponent to a friend over the years. It’s been a pleasure watching you bat and compete against you over so many years but more than that I value our friendship and shared perspectives on the game and beyond. I continue to cherish every time we speak or meet. Wishing you…

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) June 12, 2026

Williamson's retirement marks the end of an illustrious international career, during which he participated in 378 matches for New Zealand. The 35-year-old concludes his journey as the nation's leading run-scorer, amassing 19,346 runs, which includes 48 centuries and six double-centuries, as reported by New Zealand Cricket (NZC).

His final appearance for New Zealand was in the first Test against England at Lord's, where he unfortunately scored a duck in the first innings and managed only 18 runs in the second, contributing to a 115-run defeat for his team.

Beyond his batting statistics, Williamson's leadership was highly regarded. He captained the Black Caps across all formats from 2016 to 2024, leading them to two ICC World Cup finals, three semi-finals, and securing the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) title in 2021.

As a captain, he oversaw 40 Test matches, achieving 22 victories, 10 losses, and 8 draws, ranking just behind Stephen Fleming, who has 28 wins from 80 Tests. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), Williamson led New Zealand in 91 matches, with a record of 46 wins, 40 losses, 1 tie, and 4 no-results, again following Fleming's record of 98 wins from 218 ODIs.

Williamson also holds the record for the most T20I wins by a New Zealand captain, with 39 victories in 75 matches.