India vs New Zealand 2019, captains' corner: Virat Kohli vs Kane Williamson- Who’s better?

The Verdict:

Kane Williamson and Virat Kohli

Both Williamson and Kohli have been successful leaders of their side. Kohli has enjoyed greater success (win percentage - 75.42) than Williamson (win percentage - 55.35) as captain in terms of results. The Indian skipper has won 11 out of 14 ODI series while the Blackcaps captain has won ten out of 19. The results clearly favour Virat Kohli.

Virat also comes across as a great motivator for the side. He not only rakes up the mountain of runs for himself but is always supportive of his teammates. On the downside, he can be too expressive and can lose the plot once infuriated. Kohli relies heavily on MS Dhoni to help him out with the field placements. Another noted fault in Kohli’s leadership has been him not talking with the young bowlers in crisis conditions. The eccentric selections also weaken the confidence of players.

Williamson’s leadership is more muted, at least by what we observe on the playing field. He is extremely graceful and respects every opponent. In Ross Taylor, he has a senior partner to consult, but Williamson is typically on his own. He backs his players to come good in time, and the selections are rigid and consistent. He lacks Kohli’s skills of outplaying the opponent single-handedly, but he manages his available resources well.

The biggest test of ODI captaincy will definitely be the impending World Cup. The history has never forgotten a World Cup-winning captain and it will be the greatest stage for these two champions to claim the ultimate respect. The upcoming mini-battle of five ODIs between Kohli and Williamson will definitely provide a preview.