Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said that both Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson have led their sides from the front and are tremendous ambassadors of the game, rightfully deserving the opportunity to play in the World Test Championship 2021 final.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli and New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson are among the world’s most versatile and creative batsmen. The duo is breaking numerous records along the way and is the leading batsman in all three formats of the game for their respective nations.
Both Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson will be seen in action together when India and New Zealand cross swords against each other in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at Ageas Bowl in Southampton from June 18-22.
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However, heading into the WTC final, all the focus would be on two skippers, Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson, as both are the two lynchpins of their batting line-ups and have unique ways to go about their business.
Former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum lauded both Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson saying that the duo has led their sides brilliantly and to reach the WTC final is a massive achievement.
He added that both the skippers have pushed their teams in tough situations and they deserve to play in the WTC final.
“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. 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,” Brendon McCullum told India Today.
McCullum said that both Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson are inspirational leaders but are contrasting in their own ways of leading the team.
“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 said.
The former New Zealand skipper remarked that both Kohli and Williamson are the ‘giants of the international game’ as they both possess the quality of bringing the best out of those around them.
“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,” he said.
Brendon McCullum further said New Zealand will have an advantage going into the final, pointing out the game time the Kiwis had in English conditions in the lead up to the much-anticipated WTC final.
"I think 60-40 in favour of New Zealand. It's going to be close. The match practice that New Zealand is going to have leading into the final could just title it in their way. I think it's going to be close," he concluded.
The WTC final winner will be awarded a prize of $1.6 million and the ICC Test mace while the runners-up would receive $800,000. The prize money will be shared between the two teams if the game ends in a draw.
(India Today inputs)
