Vaughan Urges Williamson to Emulate Kohli's T20 Transformation

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has urged New Zealand's Kane Williamson to emulate Virat Kohli's transformation in T20 cricket. Vaughan believes Williamson, who recently stepped down as New Zealand's T20I captain, needs to increase his strike rate to remain relevant in the shortest format.

Williamson's struggles in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where he scored just 28 runs at a strike rate of 87.50, have raised concerns about his suitability for the modern T20 game. Vaughan suggests that Williamson should take inspiration from Kohli, who has reinvented himself as an aggressive batter in recent years.

"Look at Virat Kohli in IPL 2024. He went from the Virat in previous years to the modern 2024 player by going for it, being expansive, particularly against spin. It was tremendous to see," Vaughan said on Cricbuzz.

Vaughan believes that Williamson, who has a career T20I strike rate of 126.50, can improve his strike rate by 15-20% to become a more valuable asset for New Zealand and his franchise teams.

"Kane Williamson will never be a batter who strikes at 200. If he can up his strike rate by 15-20 per cent, and get to a strike rate of 140-150, he would be the glue for New Zealand and whatever franchise he plays for," Vaughan added.

Kohli, at the age of 35, piled up 741 runs at a strike rate of 154 in IPL 2024, winning his second Orange Cap in the process. Williamson is no stranger to the Orange Cap either, having won it in 2018, when he smashed 735 runs at a strike rate of 142. However, six years on, Williamson's offensive game seems to be on the decline.

Williamson's future in New Zealand's T20I setup is uncertain. He has quit captaincy and declined a central contract, hinting at overseas priorities and wanting to spend more time with his family. New Zealand's failure to qualify for the Super 8 in the 2024 T20 World Cup also means that they are not guaranteed direct qualification to the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Tags: #KaneWilliamson, #MichaelVaughan, #ViratKohli, #T20Cricket, #NewZealandCricket