Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson equal ODI World Cup record for most semifinal appearances

Kohli and Williamson are the sixth and seventh players to make a record four semifinal appearances in the ODI World Cup.

New Zealand’s Kane Williamson shakes hands with India’s Virat Kohli. | Photo Credit: Reuters/Lee Smith

India’s Virat Kohli and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson made their fourth ODI World Cup semifinal appearance as their sides face off in the last-four stage of the ongoing tournament at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Kohli and Williamson are the sixth and seventh players to make a record four semifinal appearances in the competition.

Players with four ODI World Cup semifinal appearances

Imran Khan (PAK)

Ricky Ponting (AUS) Glenn McGrath (AUS)

Muttiah Muralidharan (SL)

Ross Taylor (NZ)

Virat Kohli (IND)

Kane Williamson (NZ)

Kohli made his first semifinal appearance in 2011 against Pakistan, during India’s title run. His next last-four matches -- in 2015 and 2019 -- ended in defeat, with the latter one coming against the Williamson-led New Zealand.

Williamson too made his World Cup debut in 2011. But his side fell to a defeat to Sri Lanka. In 2015 he won his first ODI World Cup semifinal, against South Africa. But the Kiwis lost to Australia in the final.

In 2019, his side got the better of India, before eventually losing to England in the final.

Interestingly, Kohli and Williamson had faced off in the semifinal of the under-19 World Cup in 2008, with India emerging the winner on that occasion.