Kane Williamson has revealed that a conversation with close friend and Indian batting great Virat Kohli played an important role in his decision to retire from international cricket. The former New Zealand captain said Kohli helped him reflect on his career and showed him the reality of his situation just a day before he announced his retirement.
Williamson decided to end his international career with immediate effect in June during New Zealand's Test series against England. He announced his retirement without waiting for a formal farewell from the sport.
The decision brought an end to his 16-year international career, with Williamson retiring without reaching the landmark of 10,000 runs in Test cricket. Interestingly, Kohli also fell short of the same milestone before announcing his retirement from the longest format.
The two batting stars share a close friendship, and Williamson revealed that he sought Kohli's advice while considering whether to continue playing international cricket.
Speaking on the 'Between the Two Beers' podcast, Williamson said he had conversations with several people he trusted before making his decision. However, his discussion with Kohli the day before the announcement proved particularly meaningful.
He described the conversation as an opportunity to reflect on their shared experiences in cricket and understand the emotions surrounding such an important career decision.
A SPECIAL BOND WITH KOHLI
Williamson and Kohli are widely regarded as two members of modern cricket's celebrated Fab Four, having made significant contributions across all three formats.
Williamson explained that he shares a unique connection with the Indian superstar and feels comfortable discussing personal matters with him.
Although Kohli continues to play ODI cricket, he has already made some of the major decisions associated with stepping away from international formats. Williamson said their similar experiences allowed them to understand each other's situations in a way that even teammates might find difficult.
He pointed out that both had spent years playing at the highest level, handled captaincy responsibilities and experienced important milestones in their personal lives, including becoming fathers around the same period.
Williamson described their relationship as particularly special because, despite representing different countries and living in different cricketing environments, they had experienced remarkably similar journeys.
He added that being able to discuss their feelings openly and share personal experiences with Kohli helped him reach clarity about his future.
Recalling the moment, Williamson said that after finishing the conversation, his wife entered their hotel room and he immediately told her that it was time to retire.
Kohli, meanwhile, retired from T20 internationals in 2024 and Test cricket in 2025 but continues to represent India in ODIs. He is currently part of the Indian team touring New Zealand for a five-match series.
