New Zealand great Kane Williamson has opened up on Virat Kohli ’s retirement from Test cricket , calling it a reality check for players of his generation. Speaking during his ongoing stint in England, where he is captaining London Spirit in The Hundred , Williamson said Kohli’s decision reminded him of how long they’ve all been around.
“You never really consider it and you do see some of your opponents and mates making some of these decisions and you think, gosh, it has been a while,” Williamson said. “You're not getting younger. It's a reality at some stage.”
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Kohli, who stepped away from Test cricket earlier this year, was the first among the celebrated ‘ Fab Four ’ to do so. The term, coined by former Kiwi batter Martin Crowe in 2014, referred to Kohli, Williamson, Joe Root , and Steve Smith as the four modern giants of Test batting. All four have enjoyed legendary careers, but Kohli’s decision to call time has added a sense of reflection and finality to that era.
“For someone like Virat, who made that decision to go out on his own terms and do what he's done for the game, that's amazing. That's so special,” Williamson added.
While Kohli takes a back seat, the others continue to carry on. Williamson himself turned 35 on Friday and is currently playing franchise cricket in England. Joe Root, now 34, recently moved to second on the all-time Test run-scoring list behind Sachin Tendulkar . Williamson hailed Root’s current form and potential longevity.
“Joe's just remarkable with what he's doing and where he's going and the things he's ticking off at the moment. It’s incredibly special and great to follow,” he said. “He’s a little bit younger than me, which is even scarier. He could keep going and it feels like he could well do for about 20 years.”
Williamson, who was allowed to skip New Zealand’s ongoing Test tour of Zimbabwe, is also enjoying the company of old rivals-turned-teammates like David Warner in The Hundred. Speaking about Warner, Williamson praised the Australian’s T20 legacy and consistency over the years. “He's without doubt been one of the greatest in the franchise T20 game. The heights he reached in the IPL, he's so highly-regarded. One of the all-time greats.”
But amid all the admiration for Root and Warner, it was Kohli’s absence that seemed to linger in Williamson’s words. A contemporary, a rival, and a symbol of modern Indian cricket, Kohli’s retirement has clearly struck a chord.
“You never really consider it and you do see some of your opponents and mates making some of these decisions and you think, gosh, it has been a while,” Williamson said. “You're not getting younger. It's a reality at some stage.”
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
Kohli, who stepped away from Test cricket earlier this year, was the first among the celebrated ‘ Fab Four ’ to do so. The term, coined by former Kiwi batter Martin Crowe in 2014, referred to Kohli, Williamson, Joe Root , and Steve Smith as the four modern giants of Test batting. All four have enjoyed legendary careers, but Kohli’s decision to call time has added a sense of reflection and finality to that era.
“For someone like Virat, who made that decision to go out on his own terms and do what he's done for the game, that's amazing. That's so special,” Williamson added.
While Kohli takes a back seat, the others continue to carry on. Williamson himself turned 35 on Friday and is currently playing franchise cricket in England. Joe Root, now 34, recently moved to second on the all-time Test run-scoring list behind Sachin Tendulkar . Williamson hailed Root’s current form and potential longevity.
“Joe's just remarkable with what he's doing and where he's going and the things he's ticking off at the moment. It’s incredibly special and great to follow,” he said. “He’s a little bit younger than me, which is even scarier. He could keep going and it feels like he could well do for about 20 years.”
Williamson, who was allowed to skip New Zealand’s ongoing Test tour of Zimbabwe, is also enjoying the company of old rivals-turned-teammates like David Warner in The Hundred. Speaking about Warner, Williamson praised the Australian’s T20 legacy and consistency over the years. “He's without doubt been one of the greatest in the franchise T20 game. The heights he reached in the IPL, he's so highly-regarded. One of the all-time greats.”
But amid all the admiration for Root and Warner, it was Kohli’s absence that seemed to linger in Williamson’s words. A contemporary, a rival, and a symbol of modern Indian cricket, Kohli’s retirement has clearly struck a chord.
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