New Zealand's captain, Kane Williamson, was absent from the crucial World Cup 2023 match against India in Dharamsala on Sunday, October 22, due to a thumb injury. However, he remained actively involved with the team throughout the game. The esteemed batsman was spotted delivering drinks to his teammates on the field after India won the toss and chose to bowl at the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium.
Williamson had been ruled out for the month of October following a finger fracture sustained during New Zealand's victory over Bangladesh on October 13. He did not participate in the match against Afghanistan on Wednesday and was not available to lead the team against India. The New Zealand Cricket board confirmed that Williamson might return to action toward the end of the league stage.
Tom Latham leading the side in the absence of Kane Williamson
Despite not being on the playing field, Williamson played a significant role off it. He addressed the team huddle before the toss and shared valuable insights with the squad. In his absence, Tom Latham assumed the role of stand-in captain but did not have luck on his side at the coin toss.
Later in the game, at the end of the 13th over, Kane Williamson made an appearance on the field, this time carrying drinks. Along with the beverages, he conveyed a message to Daryl Mitchell and the young Rachin Ravindra, who were tasked with rebuilding the New Zealand innings after the early dismissal of their openers. Williamson engaged in an extensive discussion with the two batsmen in the middle during the drinks break.
It's worth noting that India have not defeated New Zealand in an ICC tournament match for the past two decades. India faced a significant setback in the 2019 World Cup semi-final, where they stumbled in a low-scoring chase of 240 runs. That match marked MS Dhoni's final international appearance, as the wicketkeeper-batsman announced his retirement over a year after the semi-final defeat.
In the ongoing match between India and New Zealand, India opted to field first, putting New Zealand in to bat. Siraj claimed the initial wicket, dismissing the in-form New Zealand batsman Devon Conway. Shami removed Will Young with the first ball of his opening spell. Nevertheless, Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell combined to build a partnership of over 150 runs before the former fell to Shami.