Manchester:
New Zealand team upstaged India in the first semi-final of World Cup 2019 to become the first team to reach World Cup final. In the post-match presentation, Kane Williamson expressed his thoughts and said, "But hopefully we can adopt 1.5 billion supporters and they'll be supporting us, what do you reckon?"
"I guess as a captain of our side we try and operate in the best way we can to give ourselves the best chance of success and it's sort of hard to control what other people say," the tone was mild but the answer was firm. And then he brings the larger perspective into account.
"Yeah, there's so much more to winning and losing and I think it's really, really important that as a side you identify parts of matches where you may have not done things that well parts perhaps that were out of your control that went the way of the opposition," he stated.
He felt that thinking beyond results gives him the clarity that helps in moving forward quickly, without brooding over previous disappointments.
"... And try and look at it for what it is and move away from that game with a bit of clarity and so you are not too perhaps scarred or dented from just what the result was," he said.
An Indian electronic media journalist wanted a definitive answer on what he felt about Mahendra Singh Dhoni's future. Most would just state point blank that it's none of their business. Williamson exactly did that but with a touch of humour."He's not eligible to play for New Zealand," he said and everybody laughed.
Then he gave the agitated reporter what he wanted but not without a killer ending.
"Yes, experience at this level and in these occasions is so important and his (Dhoni) contribution today and yesterday but throughout this campaign was extremely important.
"That partnership that he was involved in with Jadeja who came in and hit the ball better than anybody in both teams was very, very valuable. He's a world-class cricketer but is he looking to change nationalities? We will consider that selection if we have to," he said softly.
There were peels of laughter everywhere and it ended on a happy note.
(Inputs: PTI)
