India's star cricketer Virat Kohli expressed his support for his "good friend" Kane Williamson following the team's impressive victory over New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final held in Dubai. Kohli conveyed a heartfelt message to the Black Caps' batter, who was unable to participate in the second innings due to an injury.

Williamson played a crucial role for New Zealand earlier in the tournament, scoring a commendable 81 runs on a challenging Dubai pitch during their final group match against India. However, he struggled in the final, managing only 11 runs off 14 balls after New Zealand chose to bat first. Kuldeep Yadav caught him off his own bowling, leading to his dismissal. Subsequently, Williamson was ruled out for the remainder of the match due to a quad strain sustained while batting, with Mark Chapman taking his place on the field.

In the aftermath of the match, Kohli expressed his sympathy for Williamson's loss, acknowledging that he has also faced defeats against New Zealand in the past. 

"They have been arguably the most consistent team in major tournaments over the last few years. Their success stems from their strong belief in their abilities and the considerable talent they possess. They maximize their potential and are undoubtedly the best fielding side in the world. Therefore, I want to give them a significant shout-out. They consistently demonstrate why they are among the top teams globally, and it was a commendable campaign," Kohli remarked to the broadcasters following the Champions Trophy victory.

"It is disheartening to see a very good friend of mine, Kane Williamson, on the losing side, but I have experienced being on the losing end a few times when he has emerged victorious. There is only mutual respect and affection between us."

It is worth noting that Kohli's team faced defeats against Williamson's New Zealand in the 2019 ODI World Cup semifinal, the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) in 2021, and during the group stage of the T20 World Cup four years ago in the UAE.

How did Kohli fare in Champions Trophy 2025?

In the weeks leading up to the ICC tournament, there was considerable discussion regarding his performance, particularly after he only achieved a single fifty during the home series against England in February. Nevertheless, Kohli once again proved his detractors wrong with a remarkable display in the Champions Trophy, amassing 218 runs over five innings at an average of 54.5, ranking second among Indian batsmen, following Shreyas Iyer. His contributions featured a century against Pakistan and a commendable 84 in the semifinal against Australia.

Read Also: Champions Trophy Victory: Gambhir’s Milestone, Yet Coaching Legacy Still in the Making

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