Dinesh Karthik has likened the captains of India and New Zealand with fire and ice respectively. He said both are poles apart and added that the duo both ‘love their cricket’ but ‘they play two different ways.’
Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson will battle it out in the most anticipated WTC final captaining their respective sides India and New Zealand starting Friday, 18th June at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
Dinesh Karthik: Virat Kohli Breathes Fire While Kane Williamson Is Cool
Even India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has dubbed the contest by using the same phrase, which many experts and fans of the cricket fraternity have used to describe Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson. The two skippers have their own unique method to approach the match situation.
“As cliched as it sounds, fire and ice is the best way to put it for both of them. This guy (Virat Kohli) breathes fire, that guy (Kane Williamson) is about as cool as it comes. You need 32 runs in one over, he is still smiling and making it look like it’s too easy.”
“Virat on the other hand, you know he is in your face, if you get it once wrong, he is going to give you the choicest of words when you go back – once you get out. That’s always been the experience that I have had and that is the beauty of playing with both of these guys. They love their cricket, but they play two different ways.”
“They are always compared together when you talk about batting or anything. I think his (Virat) favourite amongst those four without a doubt will be Kane Williamson. You go on social media and see; he has got nice things to say about Kane Williamson. They have spent a lot of good times. I think they spend a lot of time together,” Dinesh Karthik told Star Sports.
Led by Kane Williamson, the Kiwis were the first to qualify for the finale and with a historic series win against England, they will surely fancy their chances in Southampton. Virat Kohli, India’s most successful captain in Test cricket with 36 wins out of 60 Tests, will be aiming for his first ICC title.
Dinesh Karthik: Virat Kohli And Kane Williamson Spend A Lot Of Time With Each Other And Have Mutual Respect
The former stumper recalled an anecdote where he saw both of them sitting together and watching a T20 game.
“If I am right, I remember a very clear vision of both of them sitting together of watching, both didn’t play one of those T20 games, they were sitting together. They spend a lot of good time with each other, they have a lot of respect for each other, most importantly they will play really hard.
“One will play easy; one will play with a smile and the other one will play it in your face, but they have a lot of love for each other off the field.”
India takes on New Zealand in the WTC Final on June 18 in Southampton. Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson had first crossed paths as captains when they led India and New Zealand in the semi-final of the 2008 U-19 World Cup. The Indian captain had come out on top and even picked up the wicket of his counterpart in the semi-final.