India, June 13 -- Kane Williamson and Virat Kohli are among the finest batters of their generation, but one milestone will forever remain just out of reach. In Test cricket, 100 matches and 10,000 runs are often seen as the benchmarks of true greatness. Those who achieve both attain legendary status, but even those who fall short of one are hardly diminished. For Williamson and Kohli, playing 100 Tests is something they will always cherish. Yet, not reaching 10,000 runs in the format they loved most will remain a lingering "what if". Not from a personal perspective, perhaps, but certainly for the legion of fans who have admired them over the years.

Kohli and Williamson have long shared a genuine bond built on mutual respect. Careers that...