Kane Williamson certainly knows more than a fair bit about captaincy, having led New Zealand to glory in the first edition of the World Test Championship and runners-up finishes in the 2019 ODI World Cup and 2021 T20 World Cup. But when it comes to playing under the leadership of Hardik Pandya in Gujarat Titans, the former captain Black Caps captain is super excited.
Since last year’s IPL, where he led the Titans to winning the title in their debut season, all-rounder Hardik has fared well with bat, ball and captaincy.
For Williamson, what stands out is the energy that the 29-year-old brings along with him. “I’ve played against Hardik for a number of years. He is a world-class player.
“I played against him last year in the IPL, and he had an incredible season as a leader and as a player. So I’m really excited to be playing under Hardik and his great energy,” Williamson, who was released by Sunrisers Hyderabad and roped in by the Titans at his base price (Rs 2 crore), said at a virtual news conference on Wednesday.
There is a chance that Williamson may be promoted upfront as the opening partner of Shubman Gill, who has had a phenomenal start to 2023, especially in limited-overs cricket. Talking about Gill, Williamson heaped praises on the youngster.
“He has had an incredible year and you could always see that coming. It was only a matter of time for the quality he has, which we have seen for a few years now.
“To have those experiences that you need as a young, extremely talented player and putting it together on the international stage and endorsed obviously in the IPL as well... Like I say, it was more of a matter of time for him and he’s a very special player for our team,” Williamson stated.
Asked if he has noticed leadership skills in Gill, Williamson said: “I’ve played against Shubman for a few years and could see the quality he has. He’s a strong competitor as well.
“I’m sure he would be learning a lot from a number of leaders he has played under. He also has a great understanding of the game. So I suppose naturally, there might be leadership positions that might come his way.”
Liam waits for go-ahead
Punjab Kings’ English all-rounder Liam Livingstone will miss the team’s opening game this weekend, as he is yet to get a fitness clearance from the ECB after recovering from a knee injury.
Punjab Kings play the Kolkata Knight Riders at home in Mohali on Saturday, in their first match this season.
The 29-year-old power-hitter, a key member of the Punjab squad, has not played competitive cricket since picking up the knee injury on his Test debut in Pakistan in December.
Livingstone, who had his best IPL season last year, amassing 437 runs from 14 games and six wickets with his mixture of off-spin and leg-break, on Wednesday posted a video on social media where he is seen batting in the nets.
“He is out of the first game at least, as the ECB is conducting scans to determine his fitness status. He should be available from the second game,” said an IPL source.