Ahead of the final day of the World Test Championship, Indian skipper Virat Kohli congratulated New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling, who will be drawing curtains on his phenomenal career after the WTC final. As soon as the Kiwi players stepped on the field, Kohli went to BJ Watling and shook hands with him.
The moment was shared on the official Twitter handle of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The post was captioned as โ A nice gesture from the Indian skipper congratulating the @BLACKCAPS wicketkeeper on the final day of his international career.
Virat Kohli ๐ค BJ Watling
โ ICC (@ICC) June 23, 2021
A nice gesture from the Indian skipper congratulating the @BLACKCAPS wicket-keeper on the final day of his international career ๐#WTC21 Final | #INDvNZ | #SpiritOfCricket pic.twitter.com/zcI47UFPAp
BJ Watling holds the record of 249 catches ( including 10 as a fielder) and eight stumping - the best numbers by any current Test wicket-keepers. Watling has been an integral part of New Zealand batting and has eight hundreds to his name.
He also holds the record of the highest fourth and fifth wicket partnership for New Zealand. Watling stitched 362 for the fourth wicket with Brendan McCullum vs India at Basin Reserve in 2014 before stitching 365* with Kane Williamson for the fifth wicket against Sri Lanka at the same venue a year later. He is the ninth wicketkeeper to score a double hundred in Tests and the first one to do so against England.
Virat Kohli Shake hands and wishes to Bj Watling, today is the last day of Watling's Test Career.
โ ๐ต๐น NZ_๐๐ ๐ช๐ข๐ฏ สฌ (@JustinOffcl_) June 23, 2021
My Man Always Great Respect Player โค๏ธ#WTC2021 #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/gN3Q6Miptb
Nice of Virat Kohli to walk upto BJ Watling and shake hands before the first ball is bowled.
โ Kanav Bali๐ (@Concussion__Sub) June 23, 2021
Amazing Gesture โค๏ธ๐๐ผ#WTCFinal pic.twitter.com/cL4448gkwf
Wonderful sportsmanship spirit by Virat Kohli, he's congratulating BJ Watling on a fantastic career. #WTC21final #WTC21 #WTC2021 #WTCFinals #ViratKohli #ICCWorldTestChampionshippic.twitter.com/vH37WvZ7GA
โ Bibekananda Sahu ๐ฎ๐ณ (@IamBibeka) June 23, 2021
Virat Kohli congratulates BJ Watling on his last day in his Test career - brilliant gesture from the Indian captain.#INDvNZ #WTCFinal pic.twitter.com/m5miiPTtDV
โ Neelabh (@CricNeelabh) June 23, 2021
The WTC final is delicately poised with India at 130/5, with a lead of 98 at Lunch on Day 6. Rishabh Pant is batting on 28 while Ravindra Jadeja is unbeaten on 12. With all three results possible, we are in for a crackerjack of a second session. Earlier, Kyle Jamieson ripped off the Indian batting, accounting for the wickets of Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara. Ajinkya Rahane was caught down the leg side of Trent Boult.