Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has revealed that a heartfelt conversation with India’s Virat Kohli, held just a day before he announced his retirement from international cricket, helped him gain clarity about his decision to step away from the game.
Speaking on the Between Two Beers podcast, Williamson described the exchange with Kohli as being “like looking in the mirror”, explaining that their similar experiences as international cricketers allowed them to discuss the personal and professional challenges of ending long careers.
Williamson brought the curtain down on his 16-year international career in June 2026. He retired as New Zealand’s highest run-scorer across formats, having accumulated 19,346 runs, including 48 centuries and six double-centuries.
In Test cricket, he finished with 9,515 runs, featuring 33 centuries and six double-centuries. Although he was fewer than 500 runs short of the landmark 10,000-run mark, Williamson said the milestone had never been a personal objective.
Recalling his conversation with Kohli, Williamson said their shared experiences extended beyond cricket, with both having dealt with leadership responsibilities and family life while spending years at the highest level of the sport.
He explained that the discussion focused on how their relationship with cricket and their motivation had evolved over time. Williamson said he had spent much of his career concentrating on improving himself and helping his team, but recognised that his priorities and approach were beginning to change.
The former New Zealand skipper said the conversation left him with a sense of certainty about his decision. After ending the call, he told his wife, who had entered their hotel room, that it was time to retire.
Williamson also reflected on the danger of continuing to play for external expectations rather than personal fulfilment. Referring to Kohli’s perspective, he spoke about the possibility of athletes beginning to “play for the gallery” instead of remaining connected to their original passion for the sport.
He added that records, averages and centuries were not the measures that defined his success, stressing that he did not want to prolong his career simply to reach a statistical milestone.
Kohli, meanwhile, announced his retirement from Test cricket in May 2025, finishing with 9,230 runs in the format. The two former captains, who spent years competing at the highest level, shared similar experiences of balancing international cricket, leadership and family commitments.
