NEW DELHI: In a heartfelt tribute,
New Zealand
's young star
Rachin Ravindra
expressed admiration for
Kane Williamson
, describing the experience of batting alongside the seasoned 33-year-old as "very special."
Following the conclusion of the first day of the Test match between New Zealand and
South Africa
in Mount Maunganui, Ravindra shared his sentiments, labelling the opportunity to share the pitch with his "idol" Williamson as a "pinch-me" moment.
Reflecting on Williamson's century in the match, the 24-year-old couldn't contain his awe, describing it as "unbelievable" that the right-handed batsman continues to exhibit such prowess by smashing centuries. The admiration and appreciation from the emerging talent highlight the impact and inspiration that Williamson brings to the younger players in the team.
"Playing alongside Kane is always very special. Sharing the crease with someone I idolise so much, life has come full circle for me. It's a real 'pinch-me' moment. Seeing him go about his business as usual, with his calmness and timing, and the positions he gets himself into, it was pure batting bliss. As a lover of
New Zealand cricket
, seeing him still score Test hundreds is unbelievable," Ravindra said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Commending Williamson's resilience, Ravindra spoke highly of the seasoned player's ability to elevate his game even after facing injuries and setbacks.
"You saw it at the World Cup as well. It shows the pure resilience of the man, coming out of all those injuries and setbacks as an even better cricketer. You can see it in his character, work ethic, and the way he gives back to the team. Many guys who've played 15 years of international cricket, they might not have come back like Kane did. He's unbelievable, just a model personality to have around," Ravindra added.
Reflecting on his performance, Ravindra provided insight into his approach, mentioning that he adopted a selective approach in choosing which deliveries to play. This strategic decision was influenced by Williamson's strong performance at the other end. The duo stitched an unbeaten 219-run stand after NZ were reduced to 39/2.
"The way I batted was my natural way of scoring. On that surface, I had to be a little more selective in choosing the balls to score off. Kane was doing well at the other end, so being able to lean on him in the partnership was great," he added.
Both batters went unbeaten at the close of play putting New Zealand (258/2), after being put into bat, in complete control.
(With ANI inputs)
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