Former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum has on Thursday (June 3) heaped praise on Indian captain Virat Kohli and current Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson for their brilliant captaincy during the inaugural ICC the World Test Championship (WTC) 2021.
McCullum further said that both Kohli and Williamson have led their teams, the Indian cricket team, and New Zealand, outstandingly and they rightfully deserve to battle for the World Test Championship (WTC) crown in the WTC Final from June 18 in Southampton, England.
Speaking to Sports Today, McCullum said: “Both Virat and Kane have led their sides brilliantly. Their own forms have been superb. To be able to qualify for the WTC final is a massive achievement.”
The former Kiwi skipper further explained, “To reach the final of WTC, the results they needed for a long period. You have to force the situations in Test cricket to garner success in the longest format of the game. Both captains have pushed their teams to excel, and I believe they rightfully deserve the opportunity to play in the final.”
On the contrasting captaincy style of Kohli and Williamson, McCullum said: “They are inspirational leaders but lead their teams indifferently. One (Kohli) is out and out aggressive, while the other (Williamson) is a dominant leader but is not as expressive as his counterpart. They are true ambassadors of the game and are the must-watch talents of the present time.”
He further noted, “Apart from being great leaders, they are two giants of the International game at his point of time. One of the amazing qualities they both have is to get the best out of those around them. It has helped them to achieve some special things for their countries.”
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However, the former cricketer-turned-commentator didn’t reveal his favorite to win the WTC final, as both Team India and New Zealand are too good to win the crown, but feels they can share the trophy since the ICC changed the rules and conditions for the WTC 2021 final with the teams to be joint winners if the match ends in a draw or tie.
McCullum signed off by saying, “One of them will lift the trophy, or there is a possibility that both of them can share it because the rules have changed.”
(With India Today Inputs)
