Srinagar: Team India superstar Virat Kohli was quick to send a heartfelt message to his good friend Kane Williamson after India beat New Zealand to ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title in Dubai on Sunday.
New Zealand star batter and former captain Kane Williamson was injured during first innings and couldnt take field as India chased the target set by Kiwis.
Williamson was dismissed for just 11 runs off 14 balls after New Zealand elected to bat first.
After the match, Kohli felt sorry seeing his friend Williamson on the losing side but added that he, too, had incurred defeat many times against New Zealand in the past.
“They’ve been probably the most consistent team in the last few years in big tournaments. And the reason for that is their immense belief in their skills and the amount of talent they have. They utilize that to the maximum and easily the best fielding side in the world. So yeah, huge shout out to them. They continue to display why they are one of the top teams in the world. And again, a great campaign,” Kohli told the broadcasters after the Champions Trophy triumph.
“Sad to see a very good friend of mine (Kane Williamson) on the losing side, but I’ve been on the losing side a couple of times when he’s been on the winning side. So only love between us.”
Pertinently Kohli-led side lost to Williamson’s New Zealand in the 2019 ODI World Cup semifinal, the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) in 2021, and the group stage of the T20 World Cup four years ago in the UAE.