When he captains New Zealand against Sri Lanka in their final league encounter in the ODI World Cup 2023, Kane Williamson will be looking for victory. For the Black Caps, this match is effectively the quarterfinals of the competition; victory will advance them to the semifinals, while defeat will severely hurt their hopes.
Williamson’s injury history has been difficult on him and New Zealand. The Indian Premier League 2023 (IPL 2023) saw the captain of New Zealand sustain a knee injury. After recovering in time to board the plane to India, he was struck by a toss during a match, which resulted in another injury to his thumb.
Regarding his cricket career, Williamson ranks among the best batters of the contemporary era. He is a member of the Fab 4, which also includes Joe Root, Steve Smith, and Virat Kohli.
Williamson discussed his childhood hero and current favourite cricket player in a Star Sports interview. While growing up, Williamson claimed to have looked up to India’s legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar. His current favourite, however, is nobody beyond Virat Kohli, another Indian, who also claims to be a close friend of the captain of New Zealand.
New Zealand and Kane Williamson’s topsy-turvy ODI World Cup 2023
This ODI World Cup got off to a fantastic start for New Zealand. They had won four straight games. It appeared as though the Black Caps would qualify for the semi-finals. However, their bad run started when they faced India in their fifth game.
The next four games were losses for New Zealand, making their route to the semifinals extremely difficult. To get ten points today, they must defeat Sri Lanka. After that, they must pray that neither Pakistan nor Afghanistan win their respective final games by a wide margin.
If they are able to qualify for the semi-finals, they would be facing hosts and in-form side India. The teams also met in the ODI World Cup 2019 semi-finals, where the Kiwis gave heart-breaks to the Indian team and it’s supporters. They would be hoping for a similar result if the two nations face off once again.
Fans react as Kane Williamson chooses Team India superstar as his favourite cricketer:
Kane Williamson rates Virat Kohli as his current favourite cricketer. (Star). pic.twitter.com/osFxARTN8U
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 9, 2023
Two Goat in single frame
— Web Wizard (@speckydude_js) November 9, 2023
Kane Williamson is good cricketer and amazing human being.
— Manoj Tiwari (@ManojTiwariIND) November 9, 2023
— CricketWala (@CricketWala786) November 9, 2023
The king pic.twitter.com/MbOtGsfoBR
— Amrit (@Amrit_Uvach) November 9, 2023
It's great to see mutual respect among cricketers. Kane Williamson acknowledging Virat Kohli as his current favorite cricketer speaks volumes about Kohli's talent and influence in the cricketing world. ??
— ?????kh?????? (@akhil_nair_777) November 9, 2023
Great minds recognize greatness!
It's all about mutual respect and admiration on and off the field ?
— Gaurav Sharma (@Mktgwithgaurav) November 9, 2023
Virat is everyone's favorite star???
— A Class Cricket (@aclasscricket92) November 9, 2023
Virat and Kane start with same journey in U-19 world cup
— Aryan Pandey (@AryanPa66861306) November 9, 2023
