India holds a significant importance in Kane Williamson’s cricketing career. He made his ODI and Test debuts against India, and scored a match saving century in his very first Test, in Ahmedabad. He has returned to the country many times since then, as part of the New Zealand team and to play in the IPL. But this time it is special. This time Williamson is in India for his first World Cup as New Zealand’s captain. And as the Black Caps go about their pre-tournament preparations in Mumbai, his mind is filled with nostalgia and excitement for the future alike.
“There are a couple of things you look back at and think are quite funny,” Williamson said, “like playing against your heroes; the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman – who is now the mentor of my IPL team, Sunrisers Hyderabad.
“I have spent quite a lot of time in this country since my debut Test series and the passion people have for cricket makes it a pretty special experience each time. The sport is on a high in this country every time you play here.”
The Kiwis will experience this high at its highest in their very first match of ICC World Twenty20, 2016, as they kick-start their campaign against India on March 15 in Nagpur. Williamson knows it is going to be baptism by fire for his young team, but is also aware that a win will set them on the right path straight away.
“India will be the favourites going into the tournament. But I think all the teams would come here believing that they can win,” Williamson said. “T20 is a pretty fickle format and all the teams are doing well in this format. We have a tough match first up and we will be preparing the best we can for it. Hopefully it will be a good start and we will kick off with good momentum going forward in the tournament. They will be a team pretty tough to beat. They are a very good short format side with a number of players who can win matches on their own.”
Playing in the subcontinent conditions is always a challenge for the teams from the western part of the world. However, the IPL has taken away a lot of mystery in that regards, making cricketers from around the world well equipped to not only counter but also thrive in this once unfamiliar territory. That, Williamson believes will make the competition spicier.
“It is important that we adapt. We have been playing some good T20 cricket but in India, you have to play smart. Cricket can be different here compared to back home, and we are aware of that.
“There are a lot of guys who have played cricket here, and it is important to tap into that experience to help your cause. Most of the guys have played alongside each other in the IPL, and so everyone knows each other. It will be a very tough tournament because every team will be expecting that (aspect of familiarity to work in their favour), which makes for a very exciting competition,” he said.
New Zealand themselves have had a good run in the shortest format, winning four of their five T20I internationals this year, including a series win over Pakistan. Not to forget their spirited performance in the ICC World Cup, 2015 to make the final, that won them fans all over the world.
Over the last couple of years the Kiwis have entertained cricket fans with their aggressive brand of cricket, something that Brendon McCullum inculcated into the team as their captain. Williamson, who has taken over from the recently retired legend, vows to keep leading the team further in that direction and build on the legacy built by McCullum.
“Brendon gave so much to the team and we are thankful to him for that and the time we had with him” he said. “It is a small transition having lost the captain and the top order batsman. He was very inspirational as a captain and the way he went about his business on and off the field. The team has come a long way in the last few years.
“He led by example and at the same time encouraged the others to do the same. He created a lot of leaders in the team. It was his and Mike Hesson’s (New Zealand’s coach) vision, and the way the guys bought into it was equally important. The focus was very much off the field in the team culture and the guys playing for one another selflessly. It is important that is continued.
“The aggressive brand of cricket we are playing is working well for us. We set out to win cricket matches and we thought this was the best way to do it. We need to play the best brand of cricket that is suited to these conditions and the sides we come up against,” Williamson said.
