Watch: KL Rahul makes special request to Kane Williamson

India’s stand-in skipper for the fifth T20I against New Zealand, KL Rahul showered huge praise on Kane Williamson, saying that he loves watching the New Zealand captain bat, but hopes that he doesn’t showcase his skills in the upcoming ODI series between the two sides.

A request from Punjab captain to Sunrisers captain

KL Rahul even said that he learned a lot watching Kane Williamson closely in Indian Premier League (IPL) when both of them were playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in earlier seasons.

The newly appointed captain of King XI Punjab said that Williamson can reserve his special knocks for later and not even the IPL as both of them will be playing for different teams in the cash-rich league. Williamson will be leading Sunrisers in IPL 2020.

“I have spent a lot of time with Kane during 2014, 2015 when I was with Sunrisers and he was with Sunrisers. I spent a lot of time talking to him about batting. I thought we have similar styles of batting, I learnt a lot by watching him bat,” KL Rahul said. 

A little request for Kane Williamson from @klrahul11 ? #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/1cmG5J2l1l

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 2, 2020

“It’s a treat to watch him bat. It’s a treat to watch but hopefully, in the next 3 ODIs we don’t want to be treated to Kane’s innings. Hopefully, he can save it not even for IPL because he is against me. Any other series is fine.” Rahul said.

New role for Rahul

KL Rahul pleased to live his 'second dream' #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/k185xU7qtE

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 2, 2020

KL Rahul was seen in a new role in the fifth T20I.  He was the stand-in captain during New Zealand’s chase as Rohit Sharma, who was named the stand-in captain after Virat Kohli rested himself, picked up a calf injury.

He was in phenomenal form with the bat.  He topped the batting charts in the 5-match series, scoring 224 runs at a staggering average of 56.

He looked brilliant behind the stumps as well as he took over the role of wicketkeeper-batsman after Rishabh Pant’s exclusion from the playing XI. 

Kohli praises Williamson

'I truly believe that New Zealand cricket is in the best hands with Kane' #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/OKbM6w9EZe

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 2, 2020

Indian captain Virat Kohli also heaped rich praise on Kane Williamson and stressed that he is the right man to lead New Zealand despite the 5-0 series scoreline. Both of them are close friends and have started their cricketing journey together in the 2008 U-19 world cup.

“Kane is just a great guy. Kane and I have similar mindsets, similar philosophies. It is amazing that despite being from different parts of the world, we have similar thinking and we speak the same language,”

Virat Kohli said after India’s historic series win in New Zealand.

“Despite what the scoreline suggests, I feel that New Zealand cricket is in the best hands and he is the right guy to lead this team. He is the perfect, perfect man to lead them. I wish him the best of luck and power to lead this side in the future. They are a side everyone loves to watch and play against,” Kohli said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6J2AhRZ8CA