Happy Birthday Kane Williamson: New Zealand Batter's Top Knocks Against India, and Best Performances in IPL

One of the finest batters ever to represent New Zealand, Kane Williamson celebrates his 34th birthday today. Apart from his spectacular batting skills, Williamson has also displayed his sensational leadership in both the international and domestic circuits.

Williamson led New Zealand to their first-ever series victory against South Africa in Men’s Test cricket earlier this year. This was also the fourth-highest successful chase by New Zealand on home soil and the fifth-highest overall.

Having played 100 Test matches, Williamson currently has 32 centuries under his belt. As Williamson celebrates his birthday today, on August 8, we take a look at the ace New Zealand player’s top-five knocks against India and best performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Kane Williamson’s Top-five Knocks Against India

1. 113, February 2014In Test cricket, Kane Williamson’s best knock against India came in February 2014 at Eden Park in Auckland. Williamson had played a fine knock of 113 in the first innings of that game. New Zealand had won that Test match by 40 runs.
2. 95, January 2020In T20I cricket, Kane Williamson registered his highest score against India in January 2020. In the third T20I, played at the Seddon Park in Hamilton, Williamson had scored 95 off 48 balls. His terrific knock comprised eight boundaries and six maximums. Williamson’s brilliance with the bat helped the Kiwis to reach India’s total in 20 overs. India had won that game after emerging victorious in the one-over eliminator.
3. 118, October 2016Kane Williamson produced another remarkable knock of 118 against India in the second ODI in Delhi back in October 2016. Williamson’s century helped the visitors reach a defendable total of 242. New Zealand had won that ODI by six runs.
4. 52 not out, June 2021In the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India, Kane Williamson exhibited his gritty batting in both innings. In the first innings, Williamson had missed out on his half-century by just a run. In the next innings, Williamson continued his brilliance with the bat and came up with a vital knock of an unbeaten 52 off 89 deliveries. The Kiwis had won that game by eight wickets.
5. 88, January 2014Kane Williamson played another match-winning knock of 88 against India in the fifth ODI in Wellington in January 2014. Williamson’s power-packed batting guided the hosts to reach a solid total of 303. New Zealand had, eventually, won that game by 87 runs.

Kane Williamson’s top-five IPL Knocks

1. 89 vs Delhi Daredevils (Now Delhi Capitals)Kane Williamson had registered his highest IPL score of 89 against Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in April 2017. Representing Sunrisers Hyderabad, Williamson scored 89 off 51 balls in that fixture. The Hyderabad-based franchise had won that game by 15 runs.
2. 84 vs Chennai Super KingsLeading Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kane Williamson played a captain’s knock of 84 against Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2018. Williamson’s sublime innings comprised five boundaries and as many sixes. Despite, Williamson’s brilliant batting, Hyderabad lost the game by four runs.
3. 70 not out vs Royal Challengers BengaluruIn IPL 2019, Kane Williamson produced a memorable knock of an unbeaten 70 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Williamson’s 43-ball knock guided Sunrisers Hyderabad to a 175-run total. But Hyderabad eventually ended up on the losing side.
4. 66 not out vs Delhi CapitalsDuring a run chase against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2021, Kane Williamson had remained unbeaten on 66 off 51 balls. But his quickfire batting proved to be futile as Sunrisers Hyderabad conceded a loss in that game.
5. 67 vs Delhi CapitalsIn the IPL 2020 second Qualifier against Delhi Capitals, Kane Williamson had scored 67 runs off just 45 balls. Despite his best efforts, Williamson could not save Sunrisers Hyderabad from the cusp of defeat.