Former New Zealand captain and modern-day batting icon Kane Williamson has sparked lively debate among cricket supporters across India and around the world after unveiling his “Greatest Teammates XI” on the Stick to Cricket podcast. Having retired from international cricket in June 2026 after an illustrious 16-year career representing the Black Caps, Yorkshire, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Gujarat Titans, Williamson selected a star-studded lineup drawn strictly from cricketers he has shared a dressing room with across international, county, and franchise cricket. Notably, two Indian superstars—current Test and ODI skipper Shubman Gill and premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya—earned coveted spots in the playing eleven, alongside global greats such as David Warner, Joe Root, Brendon McCullum, Sunil Narine, Trent Boult, Dale Steyn, and Muttiah Muralitharan. While fans noticed the absence of Williamson’s longtime “Fab Four” contemporary Virat Kohli—given that the two competed fiercely as rivals rather than senior teammates—the inclusion of Gill and Pandya highlights the lasting impression Indian franchise cricket left on the New Zealand great.

Why Kane Williamson Included Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya

Williamson’s decision to slot Shubman Gill in at number three reflects the close camaraderie and mutual respect the two developed during their stint together at Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League. Even during his time in Ahmedabad, Williamson had frequently praised Gill’s composure, hunger for runs, and natural leadership instincts, predicting that the young opener was destined to lead India at the highest level. Equally striking was Williamson’s selection of Hardik Pandya as his premier pace-bowling all-rounder. Although a knee injury during the IPL 2023 opener limited Williamson to playing just a single official match alongside Pandya for Gujarat Titans, the Kiwi veteran clearly valued Pandya’s rare match-winning balance and big-match temperament enough to hand him a central role in his dream lineup.

Inside Kane Williamson’s Star-Studded Greatest Teammates Lineup

To assemble the XI, Williamson adhered to a strict rule: every selected cricketer had to be someone he personally played alongside at international, domestic, or franchise level. At the top of the order, Williamson paired destructive Australian opener David Warner—with whom he forged one of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s most successful batting partnerships—alongside South African stroke-maker Herschelle Gibbs. Following Shubman Gill at number three, England’s batting stalwart Joe Root—Williamson’s former Yorkshire teammate—anchors the middle order, while former New Zealand captain and explosive batter Brendon McCullum takes the wicketkeeping gloves at number six. In the bowling department, Williamson assembled a lethal four-pronged attack blending express pace, swing, and mystery spin: West Indies’ Sunil Narine, fellow New Zealand left-arm quick Trent Boult, South African fast-bowling legend Dale Steyn, and Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan.

Why Virat Kohli Was Missing Despite Their Special Bond

Shortly after clips from the Stick to Cricket episode—hosted by Michael Vaughan, Sir Alastair Cook, Phil Tufnell, and David Lloyd—went viral across X and Instagram, many Indian fans wondered why Virat Kohli was absent from the eleven. Earlier in the very same podcast conversation, Williamson had spoken warmly about Kohli, Joe Root, and Steve Smith while reflecting on their shared “Fab Four” era, noting that his friendship with Kohli stretches all the way back to the 2008 ICC Under-19 World Cup. However, because Williamson and Kohli never represented the same senior international or IPL franchise team, Kohli was ineligible under Williamson’s strict teammates-only selection criteria—explaining why Gujarat Titans colleagues Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya got the nod instead.

Reflections on Life After Retirement and the IPL’s Lasting Impact

Beyond naming his eleven, Williamson used the candid hour-long interaction to reflect on stepping away from international cricket earlier this year and finding balance with family life after sixteen years on the road. Cricket observers in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and New Delhi noted that Williamson’s final XI serves as a testament to how modern franchise leagues like the IPL have bridged international dressing rooms—allowing a soft-spoken New Zealand great to build lifelong sporting bonds with India’s current white-ball and Test leaders.