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Kane Williamson opens up on the one shot he would want to take from Virat Kohli.
Virat Kohli playing the flick shot. (Image: AFP)
When it comes to traditional cricket shots, a few batters have been able to replicate the expertise of Virat Kohli. From cover drive to leg flick, Kohli executes all of them with sheer confidence. His batting technique has inspired many, not only youngsters but also senior cricketers. Kane Williamson has recognised himself as one of them. The New Zealand veteran recently visited Mumbai and took part in a training session with a group of emerging cricketers at a local academy.
During his India trip, Williamson had a light-hearted interaction with some young fans. One of them asked the Kiwi star to name a shot he would like to “steal” from any other player. Williamson perhaps had the answer ready in his mind as he quickly replied, “I think it would be Virat Kohli’s flick off his legs.”
During the conversation, Williamson also opened up about idolising Sachin Tendulkar while growing up. “My cricketing idol was a guy who played at the maidan (ground) we were just at, actually. Sachin Tendulkar, he is the legend. He’s still playing sometimes, I see,” the 34-year-old said.
One of the most accomplished all-format batters of this generation, Kane Williamson remains absent from the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). He went unsold at the last mega auction, held in Saudi Arabia in November last year. Ahead of the start of IPL 2025, Williamson wished luck to Virat Kohli, who has yet to win his first title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
“No doubt he’s going to have a big impact again as he has done in almost every season of this tournament. I know he’s extremely motivated with RCB to push for a title, and I’m sure this season they’ll be there or thereabouts,” Williamson said.
“He’s been on the scene for several years, but his style perhaps adjusts a little bit. But the hunger remains and the passion remains and we’ve seen that in his performances recently as well,” he added.
Williamson featured in the IPL from 2015 to 2024. He has registered 2128 runs in his 79 appearances in the T20 tournament while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans.
