‘Itni jaldi kese theek ho gya’ – Fans react as Kane Williamson hopeful to be fit for 2023 One-day World Cup in India

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson gave an update on his rehabilitation from the damaged ACL for the first time. On March 31, he was injured during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season opener against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The all-time highest run scorer for the Blackcaps in Test matches has been recovering with physiotherapy treatments six days a week and some movement exercises.

With just three months ahead of the 50-over World Cup, New Zealand is hoping that Williamson will be able to participate. “There’s been some good progress and I’m putting in the time, but the steps are small and that’s what it’s about, taking those small steps forwards and minimizing the backward ones. Very much just trying to keep it week-to-week at the moment,” Williamson was quoted as saying in an interview with 1News.

“I haven’t thought too much about that. I don’t know what the rulings are around that from a squad perspective. But the focus for me is getting it right regardless of the tournaments that are ahead. It’s within any athlete’s want to return as quickly as possible but not compromise the effort that goes in to make sure it’s strong and ready,” the right-hand batter asserted.

One-Day World Cup 2023 is to be held on nine venues

Williamson was fielding at the deep mid-wicket boundary when he tried to take a catch off a pick-up shot by Ruturaj Gaikwad but fell awkwardly in the process. The Gujarat Titans batter grabbed his knee in pain before going out off the field. Then after, the 32-year-old missed the entire tournament as he travelled back home for the surgery.

In the 2015 and 2019 limited-over World Cups, the captain of the Kiwis had a key role in the team’s ability to get to the finals. His 578 runs at an incredible average of 86.57, including two centuries, won him the Player of the Series in 2019.

The venues for the knockout games – semi-final and final are yet to be announced. The dates for the semi-finals can be November 15 and 16, while the final can be played on November 19. The final is set to be hosted by Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. As per the report, India is set to play their World Cup matches at nine venues.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Noooooooooooo

— Varad Tamhankar (@Varad_Tamhankar) June 26, 2023

He will most likely get fit by the semis only to knock out India

— fan (@accharjee) June 26, 2023

https://twitter.com/firefire0045/status/1673215827188027392?s=20

Most lovable nz player in india

— scruffy opium (@poppytohdrug) June 26, 2023

So india losing in semi finals again

— tweet chor (@py_chief) June 26, 2023

https://twitter.com/ArpanBajpai10/status/1673218672297668613?s=20

https://twitter.com/HustlerAkshat/status/1673222973657067520?s=20

https://twitter.com/gheyforrohit/status/1673215844783116288