Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has reacted to Virat Kohli’s Test retirement amid IPL 2025. Williamson said given the hectic schedule of International cricket, it was not easy for Kohli to keep going all guns blazing at the top level in the red-ball version.

The Indian veteran amassed 9230 runs in 123 Test matches at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. Kohli could only manage 190 runs in five Test matches on the Australian tour at an average of 23.75. 

The talisman was averaging around 30 in the last five years and felt he didn’t have much left in his tank to keep playing with the same intensity as he always did.

“I guess when you are not just part of the cricketing fabric, but someone like Virat, he’s the whole couch isn’t he? You just assume that things last forever and they don’t. There comes a time and there is so much that goes into the game and especially the international game.

“It takes its toll and it takes a huge amount of energy and the energy he’s brought to the game and how he’s grown the game in all formats over so many years,” Williamson told Talksport in an interview.

Meanwhile, Kohli and Williamson led India and New Zealand in the Under-19 World Cup in 2008 and have shared a great bonhomie since then.

“When you sit back and think about it, you are human beings and you make decisions and life decisions. Obviously, a world leader in our game and an absolute legend, but a fantastic human being. We grew up in Under-19s together, and followed these parallel lines in some respects, but in different worlds,” Williamson said.

Kohli led India in 68 Test matches, winning 40, drawing 11 and losing 17, and thus he is regarded as one of India’s most successful Test captains.