Moments after New Zealand's victory in the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) final, skipper Kane Williamson was consoling his counterpart Virat Kohli. While the Kiwis had scripted history by clinching an ICC title after 21 long years, there was a sense of despair among Indian fans after seeing their side fail in the final hurdle yet again.
Just a few later, India and New Zealand rekindle their rivalry but in the shortest format. Williamson and Kohli, who have known each other since their Under-19 days, will square off against each other again in a do-or-die 'Super 12' contest of the T20 World Cup 2021.
While New Zealand have an edge over India in major ICC events, both sides will be under some pressure, having lost their opening matches of the World T20 against the same opposition, Pakistan. One more defeat might severely hamper their chances of making it to the last-four.
While India suffered a crushing 10-wicket defeat against the Babar Azam-led side to end their near-three-decade long supremacy in World Cups, Williamson's men floundered to lose to Pakistan by five wickets.
India and New Zealand will now lock horns on October 31 in Dubai and both teams will have to face Afghanistan apart from minnows Namibia and Scotland.
India chasing perfect swansong for Virat Kohli
Apart from the much-anticipated clash, the "Virat vs Kane" battle is bound to turn heads. India may have not tasted World Cup victory against New Zealand since the 2003 edition, but Kohli's record in T20 Internationals puts him slightly ahead of Williamson.
Kohli, who is eyeing an ICC trophy before relinquishing the T20I captaincy, has 1559 runs in 44 T20I innings while leading India in the shortest format. With 13 fifties and an impressive strike-rate of 141.98, the 32-year-old skipper also flaunts an average of 48.71.
Williamson isn't far behind. He has scored 1408 runs in 50 innings as New Zealand's captain in the T20Is, with 11 fifties under his belt. He also comes into the match-up with a healthy average of 31.28 and a strike-rate of 124.82.
Tricky New Zealand challenge
Putting batting records aside, India haven't looked their self against New Zealand. In fact, they are yet to open their tally against the Kiwis in T20 World Cups. A young Indian brigade, led by MS Dhoni, won the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa back in 2007.
However, a 10-run defeat to New Zealand remains a blemish in their otherwise successful campaign. The 2016 T20 World Cup contest was no different. Chasing a modest 126-run total in Nagpur, India were bundled out for just 79 runs in the "Super 10" contest.
While Daniel Vettori led the New Zealand unit in the 2007 edition, Williamson was at the charge in 2016. The semi-final win over India in the 2019 ODI World Cup, perhaps, seems like an indelible memory for the cool-headed leader.
India crashed out of the 50-over showpiece after losing to New Zealand at Old Trafford, Manchester. A dejected MS Dhoni made his way back towards the end, ending hopes of millions of Indian fans who were expecting a turnaround. It also turned out to be the talismanic leader's last appearance in the blue jersey. To add salt to the wound, New Zealand emerged victorious in the whites too, making the world talk about "nice guys" winning the ICC Mace after breaking the silverware jinx.
With the T20 World Cup at stake and a trophy-drought to end, Kohli himself would look to punch above his weight to help India notch up their first victory of the tournament.
