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New Zealand batter Kane Williamson has heaped high praise on former India Test captain Virat Kohli, hailing him as “the greatest all-format player” of the modern era.
Williamson, currently working as a presenter for the ongoing Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy between India and England, made the remarks during Day 3 of the third Test at Lord’s.
“Virat is probably the greatest all-format player that we’ve seen in the last 15 years,” said Williamson.
“And he’s done it all in a cricket-obsessed country, where expectations are sky high. To be at the top of that tree for so long, it says a lot about him, both as a player and as a person.”
Kane Williamson also reflected on the camaraderie among modern-day cricketers, highlighting the mutual respect shared among peers despite competitive rivalries.
“There are great relationships and friendships across teams in different ways. We stay in touch in a lot of ways,” he added.
Virat Kohli, who officially retired from Test cricket in May 2025, brought down the curtain on a stellar red-ball career with 123 Tests, 9230 runs, 30 centuries, and 31 fifties to his name.
Widely regarded as one of India’s most successful Test skippers, Kohli led India to historic series wins, including a landmark triumph in Australia, a first by an Asian team.
His Test retirement followed his T20I exit in 2024 after leading India to victory in the ICC T20 World Cup, where they beat South Africa in the final.
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