Former Indian captain Virat Kohli An emotional tribute was paid to Ken Williamson The New Zealand batting great announced his immediate retirement from international cricket on Friday.Williamson’s decision brought to a close a brilliant international career that spanned 16 years, during which he established himself as one of the best batsmen of the modern era and one of New Zealand’s greatest ever cricketers.Immediately after the announcement, Kohli took to X and shared a heartfelt message for his longtime rival and friend, reflecting on the bond they’ve developed over years of competing at the highest level.
Virat Kohli’s post
“From an adversary to a friend over the years. It’s been a pleasure watching you bat and competing against you over the years, but more than that, I cherish our friendship and shared vision for the game and beyond. Wishing you nothing but the best always bro. You’ve done your job, you deserve to enjoy it all now and put your feet up. Well done man, life has just begun.“Kohli and Williamson were two pillars of the famous “Fab Four” generation, side by side Steve Smith And Joe Root. Over the past decade, the duo has earned immense respect from fans and fellow cricketers for their consistency, leadership and performances across all formats.Interestingly, both the great batsmen ended their Test careers just short of the 10,000-run milestone. Williamson scored 9,515 runs in 110 Tests at an impressive average of 54.06, scoring 33 centuries and six double centuries. Kohli, who will retire from Test cricket in 2025, has scored 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85 in 123 matches, including 30 centuries.Williamson left the game as New Zealand’s highest international run-scorer across all formats. The 35-year-old scored 19,346 international runs and was a central figure in one of the most successful periods in New Zealand cricket history.Known for his calm demeanor and elegant batting, Williamson scored 9,515 Test runs, 7,256 ODI runs and 2,575 T20I runs during his international career. He also captained New Zealand to the inaugural ICC World Test Championship title in 2021 and led the team to the finals and semi-finals of several ICC tournaments.His retirement came during New Zealand’s ongoing three-Test series against England, meaning the first Test at Lord’s was the final match of his international career.As tributes poured in from around the cricketing world, Kohli’s message came as a reflection of the mutual admiration and friendship shared by two defining cricketers of his generation.
