Mumbai
Kane Williamson, New Zealand’s former captain, has described his team’s 3-0 whitewash of India in their own backyard as the side’s “greatest achievement,” placing it on par with their inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final victory over the same opponents. Speaking at the CEAT Cricket Ratings Awards in Mumbai, Williamson reflected on the historic series, which ended India’s 12-year unbeaten home streak in Tests.
Despite entering the tour on the back of a humbling 2-0 series loss in Sri Lanka, the Tom Latham-led Kiwis made an immediate impact, bundling India out for just 46 runs in the first Bengaluru Test. Spinners Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner played pivotal roles, outshining their Indian counterparts with both bat and ball. The series also marked a transitional phase for Indian cricket, coinciding with the retirement of legends Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin, who struggled in both this series and the subsequent Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
Williamson, who did not play due to injury, praised the team’s performance in challenging conditions, emphasizing the difficulty of winning in India. At 35, he has opted out of a central contract with New Zealand Cricket to balance international cricket, T20 leagues, and family time, but insists he still has much to contribute.
Reflecting on the future of Test cricket, Williamson advocated for longer series, more meaningful contests, and opposed the two-tier system, stressing that opportunities for teams to improve and grow remain essential. He highlighted the role of the WTC in providing context and meaningful results, while acknowledging the challenges of scheduling in a crowded international calendar.
The Kiwi star concluded, “Coming to India and performing the way we did was amazing. It will go down as one of our greatest achievements.”
