Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor stitched a defining 96-run partnership for the third wicket in the recently-concluded World Test Championship Final against India to take their team home. Williamson scored a vital unbeaten half-century and won the game with eight wickets in hand.

He proved to a thorn in the flash for Team India after scoring stubborn 49 runs in the first innings. While chasing the target of 139 runs, there came a moment when Team India thought they had Williamson out. Ravichandran Ashwin trapped Williamson in front of wickets and the on-field umpire adjudged him out.

However, Williamson opted for DRS and got a lifeline when the ball-tracker showed the ball was missing the stumps.

The New Zealand skipper believes it was a close call and went his way.

“It was close. But the way Ravi spins the bowl, I thought I might have a chance. So, I decided to review it, and it turned out my way,” said Kane Williamson in an exclusive interview with India Today.

India got out for 170 in the second innings leaving New Zealand to chase 139 runs to lift the WTC Final. They chase the target down within time on the sixth day to lift their first ICC title in 20 years.

Several cricket experts feel India lacked match practice in comparison to New Zealand, who played two Test matches against England just before the final.

However, Williamson thinks otherwise.

“There is no right and wrong answers for it. We all know India has a world-class Test team. Yes, in England, with Duke ball, different things happen all the time, but everyone saw that India was equally competitive. The match could have gone either way,” said Williamson.

“It was an amazing game to be part of. The match could have gone either way. Unfortunately, there were weather interruptions, but still, we were able to get the result. I am just glad to be part of the special game.”