It's a challenge for the coaching staff and Warner to select a playing XI: Kane Williamson

Looking at the credentials of Kiwis skipper Kane Williamson it was a baffling move to leave him out from the first 5 matches of Vivo IPL 10 but the defending champions had no their options as their side is packed with superstars in all 3 departments of the game. Given his cool and composed nature, Williamson wasn’t complaining a single bit but answered all the questions with his bat when he eventually got his first chance of the tournament.

He smashed a sensational 89 of a mere 51 deliveries in their previous encounter against the Delhi Daredevils earlier in the week which allowed SRH to post a daunting total on the board. It was clean hitting by the Kiwi and he never looked like playing his first match of the tournament. He oozed class and took on the DD bowlers by the scruff of the neck.

Courtesy his brilliant innings, Williamson was awarded the Player of the Match award which was followed by a cake smearing session and a dance from Yuvraj Singh. “You sort of enjoy when the cake’s not on your face, it tastes quite nice. But yeah, to get a victory and contribute to that means a lot,” Williamson was quoted as saying by India Today.

Despite being in a stupendous form in the longest form of the game, Williamson had to warm the benches for the first 5 matches after finally getting a chance. He is well aware of the fact that T20 cricket is a totally different ball game altogether. “It is a challenge for the coaching staff and for David (Warner) to select a side with a number of overseas guys and a lot of Indian talent that deserves to play. I mean for the balance of the side, the team was playing really well so that was great to see.

“We made an adjustment just in the previous game and I had an opportunity which was nice to get. I guess contributing to attaining victory and that’s what any player in the team wants to be doing. What is more important is that the team is operating nicely as a unit and hope we can continue it,” says Williamson.

The stylish right-hander shared a terrific 136 runs partnership with Shikhar Dhawan which was instrumental in putting up a big score. “Yes, he’s (Shikhar) been playing really really well. The partnerships between him and David at top of the order have been fantastic and got us to really good starts. Shikhar has been a very huge part of our batting unit, he’s been able to get into the middle and form partnerships.”

Williamson also revealed that he loved watching Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli batting together. “Yes, two brilliant players and two slightly different players too. You have the force of Chris Gayle who’s a T20 master and you’ve got class, craft and power of Virat. So both are very dominant players. Bangalore will be a very tough side to beat, always,” admitted Williamson.