Hope we can be India's second favorite cricket team, says Williamson after WTC triumph

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson hoped his side can continue to be Indian fans' second favorite cricket team after beating Virat Kohli's men to the World Test Championship mace on Wednesday at Southampton.

Chasing a target of 139 in the second innings, Kiwis triumphed by eight wickets in the final with Williamson leading the way with an unbeaten 52.

"It's nice that maybe we're India's second favourite team. I hope that still remains the case," Williamson said in the post-match press conference.

Wiliamson, who was part of the New Zealand team that reached the 2015 and 2019 World Cup final, termed their final win over India as a special feeling.

"I've been part of (New Zealand cricket) for a short while, it's a very special feeling, the first time in our history we've come away with a world title," Williamson said.

"We've had 22 players over the last two years, and they've all played their part and the support staff and the guys who played this match, it's a special achievement to be savoured.

It was New Zealand's second major international trophy  in their history, following their ICC Knock Out triumph back in 2000.

"For us a very proud moment in our history and a proud moment just as a team really, to stick to what we do well and come away with the win, which is a really great feeling."

The 30-year old also thanked all the players who played small roles in the team's journey to the world title.

"I think for us, we know we don't always have the stars, and we use our bits and pieces to stay in games and be competitive," he said.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli had called for the future WTC finals to be a three-game affair, but Williamson felt it would be a big challenge for the ICC due to the tight cricket schedule.

"We know how fickle cricket is. The one-off factor does bring a unique dynamic, which does make it exciting and all these sorts of things, and on any given day anything can happen. I guess the challenge would be scheduling and that series amongst a lot of cricket that's already on, but no doubt the more cricket that you have perhaps within a series, the more you do find out and the more it does reveal itself, but in the same way it was a really exciting match," Williamson said.

"It was a great game of cricket played in a fantastic spirit and very, very competitive and on a surface that was offering something throughout and every team had an opportunity to win, lose and draw on the last day."

Williamson also saluted the contribution for retiring keeper-batsman BJ Watling, who had announced that the WTC final will be his last.

"I don't know if he's retiring anymore," Williamson joked. "He's a special member, a leader in our group, and really epitomises our team. A scrappy performance, which is close to his heart, because he's a scrappy player. A great occasion to celebrate, a great game of cricket, and obviously a great career which we'll celebrate."