Virat Kohli Picks Kane Williamson As Standout Performer In 2008 ICC Under-19 World Cup

Virat-led India defeated Williamson's team in a trilling semi-final of that edition, which also featured Ravindra Jadeja, Trent Boult and Tim Southee

Virat Kohli Picks Kane Williamson As Standout Performer In 2008 ICC Under-19 World Cup / Photo: AFP

New Delhi: Even though team India dominated New Zealand in the 2008 ICC Under-19 World Cup, skipper Virat Kohli picked his Kiwi counterpart Kane Williamson as the standout performer of the much-popular tournament. Virat-led India defeated Williamson's team in a trilling semi-final of that edition, which also featured Ravindra Jadeja, Trent Boult and Tim Southee. "I remember playing against Kane (Williamson). He was someone who always stood out in the team, his batting ability was very different from the other players who were around. It is good to know that so many people from that batch, like Kane and Steve Smith, have played for their respective countries," Kohli was quoted as saying in a media release by the ICC. "The ICC U19 World Cup was a very important milestone in my career," said Kohli, who made 235 runs at an average of 47 in 2008. "It helped us get a good platform to build on and make our careers from thereon, so it holds a very important place in my mind and heart. It is very important to understand and respect the opportunity it provides to you." England all-rounder Joe Root recollected how Stokes had batted India out with a match-winning hundred. "We didn't get off to the best start in that India game but Ben played one of the best innings I'd ever seen for a player of that age," said Root. "It was on the first world stage you can play on he made a brilliant hundred and we ended up winning the game against the tournament favourites, which was fantastic and great to be a part of. It was a launchpad for me and I played in a squad with a guys who are still in the team now, like Ben and James Vince." "To play alongside players like that, learn from them and watch them develop, to then go back and play against them in county cricket, meant we were always pushing each other to get better."