David Warner has called Virat Kohli “the GOAT” in an Instagram post on 1 October 2026, saying their rivalry is the kind he misses most. The former Australia opener shared a graphic of the two shaking hands in their IPL kits and admitted he wishes for “just one more game” against Kohli.
The post came four days after Kohli became only the second batter, after Sachin Tendulkar, to reach 15,000 ODI runs. He made 139 not out off 88 balls against West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram. Warner’s caption does not mention the milestone.
Warner frames it as the respect left over once the battles end. What he leaves out is why the fiercest rivals often become the closest friends, and why it does not happen for everyone.
“We’ve had plenty of battles on the field. We competed hard, wanted to win, and never gave each other an inch. But when it’s all said and done, the respect is what remains. Funny thing about cricket when those battles are over you find yourself wishing you could have just one more game against each other. Those are the rivalries you miss the most. Love the game of cricket.”
David Warner, Instagram, 1 October 2026
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Rivalry is what keeps cricket alive, and without it the game turns flat. On the field, a player is carrying his country or his franchise, so the aggression, the words and the reactions are part of the duty, not personal hatred. That is why “never gave each other an inch” is the real compliment in Warner’s post: at the top level, respect comes from the rival who never let you off.
Once the playing ends, many of those rivals become close friends, because both always knew the fight was about the contest. Not all of them do. When a rivalry turns personal, it stays bitter long after retirement, and Warner calling Kohli the GOAT shows theirs never crossed that line.
From the 2016 IPL Final to ‘One More Game’
The two met as opposing captains in the 2016 IPL final at the Chinnaswamy. Warner’s Sunrisers Hyderabad won the showdown by 8 runs.
| 2016 IPL | Virat Kohli (RCB) | David Warner (SRH) |
|---|---|---|
| Season runs | 973 (Orange Cap) | 848 (second) |
| Final | 54 off 35 | 69 off 38 |
| Result | Runners-up | Champions |
This is not the first time Warner has spoken about Kohli. When Kohli retired from Tests in May 2025, his wish was different.
“I’d have wanted to play with Virat in the same team at least once. It would have been nice to do so.”
David Warner, RevSportz, May 2025
In 2025, Warner wanted Kohli as a teammate. Seventeen months later, retired from international cricket, he wants him back as an opponent.
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