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    STUMP VISION                                                             JUNE 26, 2026     |  The Indian Eye 42

                 Virat and Kane: Two Legends,

                 Two Paths, One Last Goodbye

                As a member of the “Fab Four”; alongside Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Joe Root; Williamson

             stood out for his classical technique. While others relied on high-intensity movement or unorthodox
               triggers, Williamson played the ball late, directly under his eyes with soft hands, allowing him to

                                               neutralize seam movement across all conditions

                                                                                                                      As the twilight of his career ap-
                                                                                                                  proached, Williamson prioritized lon-
                                                                                                                  gevity and family, stepping down from
                                                                                                                  captaincy roles and eventually declin-
                                                                                                                  ing a central contract to manage his
                                                                                                                  workload in global franchise leagues.
                                                                                                                  His  final  international  appearance
                                                                                                                  came at Lord’s in June 2026, marking
                                                                                                                  the end of a storied journey.

                                                                                                                  He retired as New Zealand’s
                     ARCHAN MEHTA
                                                                                                                  leading run-scorer across all
                  he story of Kane Stuart Wil-                                                                    formats, a testament to a ca-
                  liamson begins in Tauranga,
            TNew Zealand, within a family                                                                         reer that spanned 378 match-
            where sport was a way of life. A top                                                                  es and 19,346 runs. He left
            talent at Tauranga Boys’ College, he
            was  already scoring schoolboy  cen-                                                                  the game as he played it: on
            turies at a clip that hinted at his fu-                                                               his own terms, with no regrets,
            ture greatness. His early years were
            defined by a quiet selflessness; a no-                                                                and  with  the  total  respect  of
            table instance involved him shielding                                                                 the cricketing world.
            a teammate from facing a single ball
            during a high-pressure chase, only
            stepping aside at the very end to en-                                                                     Williamson’s legacy is more than
            sure his partner shared the spotlight.                                                                just his 48 international centuries or
            This humility became the bedrock                                                                      his six Test double-centuries; it is the
            of his career, carrying him from a    A defining narrative of his career was his enduring bond with Virat Kohli (File photo)  blueprint  he left  for  leadership.  He
            captaincy role in the 2008 Under-19                                                                   proved  that  elite  performance  does
            World Cup to a challenging senior de-  2019 World Cup final and capturing   doubted his “classical” style could   not require an abrasive ego, and that
            but in 2010, where he quickly evolved   the inaugural World Test Champion-  dominate T20 cricket.     a team can reach the pinnacle of the
            from a nervous starter into a centuri-  ship title in 2021.             A  defining  narrative  of  his  ca-  sport through humility, grace, and
            on against India in Ahmedabad.        As a member of the “Fab Four”;   reer was his enduring bond with Vi-  collective execution. As he transitions
                When Williamson took the reins   alongside Virat Kohli, Steve Smith,   rat Kohli. First crossing paths in the   into his post-international life, he
            from the charismatic Brendon Mc-  and Joe Root; Williamson stood out   2008 Under-19 semi-finals, their rela-  leaves behind a Black Caps side that
            Cullum in 2016, he inherited a team   for his classical technique. While oth-  tionship evolved from fierce on-field   is a reflection of his own steady, com-
            defined  by  high-risk  aggression  and   ers relied on high-intensity movement   rivalry to a deep off-field friendship.   posed character.
            transformed it into  a  juggernaut of   or unorthodox triggers, Williamson   They were often seen sitting together   In the end, Kane Williamson
            tactical consistency. Where McCul-  played the ball late, directly under his   on boundary hoardings during rain   didn’t just play the game; he elevated
            lum provided the emotional spark,   eyes with soft hands, allowing him to   delays or quiet moments, discuss-  it, showing us all that true greatness is
            Williamson offered the structural re-  neutralize seam movement across all   ing life rather than the game. Kohli   measured by how you treat the game
            silience needed for long-term success.   conditions. Statistically, he was a pil-  once remarked that if he had to share   and those who play it alongside you.
            He cultivated a team culture rooted   lar of consistency, maintaining a Test   the number one spot with anyone,   Archan Mehta is a writer ded-
            in values, hard work, and innovation   average over 50 throughout his career   it would be Williamson, noting that   icated to telling compelling stories
            under pressure, allowing New Zea-  and becoming the fastest player to   their rivalry was entirely free of an-  about athletes, teams, and the world
            land to punch well above its weight   score centuries against all nine major   imosity. This mutual respect culmi-  of cricket
            against wealthier cricketing nations.   Test nations. His 2018 IPL campaign   nated in similar farewells, with both
            Under his stewardship, the Black   with Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he   greats retiring just short of the 10,000-  Archan Mehta is a writer dedicated
            Caps became a permanent fixture in   claimed the Orange Cap with 735   run Test milestone, leaving behind a   to telling compelling stories about
            ICC tournament finals, reaching the   runs, further  silenced  critics  who   void in the sport’s landscape.   athletes, teams, and the world of cricket

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