Virat Kohli shared a heartfelt message on Friday for Kane Williamson, who announced his retirement from international cricket earlier in the day. Williamson, already retired from T20Is, leaves behind a massive legacy – he’s New Zealand’s leading run-scorer with 19,346 runs in 378 games, 48 centuries, and six double hundreds to his name.
Kohli took to X to congratulate Williamson, calling him a ‘Fab Four’ companion and applauding his incredible career. He ended his message by telling Williamson that “life’s only just begun.”
Their story goes way back to the 2008 U-19 World Cup. Since then, both have earned their places among cricket’s elite, often facing off but building a genuine friendship in the process. Kohli mentioned how their bond has grown from fierce rivalry to real friendship, and how he can’t wait to catch up with Williamson for a chat.
Here’s what Kohli wrote: “From an opponent to a friend over the years. It’s been a pleasure watching you bat and compete against you for so long, but what I really treasure is our friendship and the talks we’ve had – both about cricket and life. I always look forward to our conversations. Wishing you nothing but the best, brother. You’ve done your part, now it’s your turn to relax and enjoy every bit of it. Well done, mate, life’s only just begun.”
Williamson played his final Test at Lord’s, in the opening match of a three-game series against England. It wasn’t the fairytale finish—he got out for zero in the first innings and managed 18 in the second, as New Zealand lost by 115 runs.
But runs are only part of the story. Williamson’s impact grew even deeper when he captained New Zealand from 2016 to 2024, leading them to two ICC World Cup finals, three semi-finals, and the historic win in the first ICC World Test Championship in 2021. His calm leadership and class at the crease defined an era for the Black Caps.
