Kane Williamson On Virat Kohli's Retirement: 'Everyone Was Caught By Surprise Because...'

Sports Cricket

Posted by AI on 2025-08-08 15:00:49 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-13 01:58:10

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New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has opened up about the shock retirement of his counterpart Virat Kohli, revealing that the Indian star's decision came as a surprise to everyone.

Virat Kohli announced his stunning Test retirement decision via a post on social media earlier this year, just before India's ongoing tour of England. Kohli cited the desire to spend more time with his family as the primary reason for winding down on his career, so he could be there for his young child.

Kohli's decision came as a shock to virtually everyone in the cricketing world, and Williamson is reportedly not an exception. "Everyone was caught by surprise because he had been talking about how he loves Test cricket and he loves everything about it," Williamson said.

"But, you know, you want to respect that decision. He has obviously been a big leader within the Indian team and their franchise teams, and his performances have been pretty impressive throughout. So, it is a big loss."

Williamson, who has struggled with injuries in recent years, believes that Kohli's decision is a strong reminder about the importance of finding a balance between personal and professional lives. "These are obviously busy times, and things are happening all around the world, and you have to be sort of mindful of each person's situation," he added.

"You know, for me, it's always just trying to improve and try and be as good a leader as possible, and try and help the team as best I can," Williamson said. "But you also have to be aware that everyone is going through different things themselves, and you've got to be respectful of that and try and create an environment where everyone can thrive, and also be happy."

Kohli's decision to retire from Tests does not affect his career in T20 and ODI cricket, meaning he could still play alongside Williamson in the near future. Whether that will be as captain of India or as a player solely focused on his batting remains to be seen.

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