Mohammed Shami one of the top operators in the world: Kane Williamson

Mohammed Shami has been on fire in the World Cup. He was initially not part of the XI, but ever since his return, he has been an unstoppable force. On Wednesday (November 15), Shami became the first-ever India bowler to pick up seven wickets in a One-day International (ODI). 

Kane Williamson, who was one of Shami's victims in the first semi-final in Mumbai, says that the pacer is one of the best bowlers in the world at the moment. 

"He's been incredible. He's only played probably half the games and he might be close to top wicket-taker and coming on first change, behind two outstanding new ball bowlers," Williamson told reporters after the match.

"I mean he's without a doubt one of the top operators in the world and the way he moves the ball and he keeps bringing the stumps into play. It's been quite phenomenal really, the amount of wickets he's gotten in such a small amount of games in this tournament. So, I mean, that Indian team in all departments are firing without a doubt and I'm sure they'll be looking forward to their next opportunity in a few days' time."

Williamson also had words of praise for Virat Kohli, who scored a record-breaking 50th ODI ton, pipping Sachin Tendulkar's feat. 

"I think if you play 50 games, some people would call that a great career to get 50 hundreds. Trying to find the words to describe it really and not just that, actually, the way he goes about it, it's actually about winning games for his team and he's getting close and there's a lot of attention and that comes with  a lot of his success, but actually it was always about pushing his team forward and so yeah, I mean he's the best isn't he?" Williamson said.

"And he seems to be getting better, which is a worry for opposition all around the world, but you admire it. It's incredible really. Although tough to be on the other side of it today, I think in time to come, well it probably won't take too long, they were outstanding, you actually just admire his greatness and yeah, he's just getting better that guy."

Daryl Mitchell had a remarkable tournament as well. He slammed two hundreds - both against India - and a couple of fifties in the tournament to take his tally to 552 runs from nine innings.

"Mitchell, phenomenal player and just the ultimate competitor, he goes out there, he loves the occasion, and he's been outstanding for us throughout this whole tournament," Williamson said. 

"And to go out and do what he did today, giving us a chance, albeit a slimmest chance, but will take anything when you're chasing 400, was a fine effort from a world-class player."

While Williamson said he has not had the time to reflect on the loss, he believes one cannot do anything but tip their hat to this wonderful Indian team.

"I suppose we'll sit down and talk about that a little bit I mean; we move on quite quickly now to another series but sometimes you have to tip your cap to a team that plays well and I mean, they were outstanding. For us as a team, you're always trying to do things better," Williamson said.

"You do your homework, you train hard, you try and come up with some different options. When you have a team like India at the top of their game, and sometimes that's not enough resistance, and it wasn't today," Williamson adds when asked about what he could have done differently.

"We didn't create many meaningful opportunities that could actually change the flow of runs in that first half and that wasn't through lack of effort, it was just quality on the opposition side and we were sort of searching  and yeah, they did it well from the start - and for us, it's sucking it up and taking it on the chin taking those experiences in to become a better side and move forward."

New Zealand had a wonderful start to the World Cup, but a series of injuries and poor form saw them lose their next four before they bounced back against Sri Lanka in their final group game to scrape through to the semi-final.

Looking back at the tournament, Williamson said, "Injuries weren’t helpful - you never want those but there was still some good cricket there and we had a couple of close losses and our focus is always on the cricket, you always want the wins, but we still continue to focus on how we want to keep going out as a team, not overreact to the loss the previous match and actually keep turning up and playing what's in front of us. 

"The conditions, they keep changing a little bit, and I thought we did that quite well to get to the stage and I suppose once you get to the knockouts it's anything can happen and yeah, it wasn't to be today, but proud of a lot of the effort that went into it, it was an extremely tough first half. 

"India came out in full force and we didn't create many opportunities. It was tough to try and stem the flow of runs and that's sort of the way it goes. They played extremely well and they're without doubt the better team today."

After the World Cup exit, New Zealand will now quickly have to shift their focus to Bangladesh, against whom they play a couple of Tests, starting November 28 in Sylhet.