MUMBAI: Despite a frustrating delay during his press conference Tuesday, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson kept the mood going with his dry humour.
The opening question would have stumped anyone: Was he hoping that like his countrymate Edmund Hillary, who was the first to scale the summit of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953 along with Tenzing Norgay, he and his team too would scale the top of the cricketing world on November 19?
"Yes, I remember the date clearly," Williamson promptly replied with a smirk.
"We know it's going to be a really tough challenge," he then continued, "India are a side that's been playing extremely well, but we also know come finals time, everything sort of starts again and it's all about the day. We've played some good cricket throughout. We've had a couple of narrow losses and a few wins along the way, so we're excited about the challenge ahead," he said.
He wasn't perturbed about the Kiwis being called 'underdogs' - yet again. "The 'underdog' thing, from what you guys write," he said, "I don't think it has changed too much. But that's fine you know. India have been exceptional. They are one of the, if not the best teams going around."
Williamson praised India for not losing their balance despite losing allrounder Pandya midway to injury. "Every team has a slightly different balance that they rely on and naturally with the injury to Hardik - it meant that their balance changed a little bit, but certainly did not change the outcome of what they were doing," he pointed out.
"Our team has played with a slightly different balance. When you get into tournaments, it is guys being nice and familiar with the roles that they have. India have done it better than anybody so far this time."
