Kane Williamson has long been the cornerstone of New Zealand cricket, a player who thrives under pressure and consistently delivers when his team needs him the most.

However, against South Africa in the second Champion Trophy semifinal in Lahore on Wednesday, he found himself in an unfamiliar position—outscored in a partnership. As he and Rachin Ravindra stitched together a crucial 164-run stand for the second wicket, it was the younger batter who led the charge, scoring 82 to Williamson's 80.

This does not signal the end of Williamson's reign—far from it.

The Kiwi maestro has notched up two centuries in his last six ODIs and a magnificent 156 in his most recent Test outing. Yet, with the ever-evolving nature of international cricket and the increasing lure of franchise leagues, Williamson may soon find himself weighing up his future, particularly in the white-ball format.

For New Zealand, the emergence of Ravindra as a formidable top-order batter has been a revelation. Initially introduced as an all-rounder batting at No. 7, his transition up the order has cemented his place as one of the Black Caps' premier batters. His performances on the biggest stages have been nothing short of spectacular—three World Cup centuries and two more in the ongoing Champions Trophy. No other New Zealander in history has achieved such a feat.

The numbers speak volumes. Legends like Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Stephen Fleming, and Martin Crowe all trail behind the 25-year-old in major tournament hundreds. Ravindra's rise has not gone unnoticed, especially by Williamson himself.

"He's an incredibly special talent," Williamson said. "It's always great to bat with him. He plays with such freedom and puts the team first. There were moments where things got tough, but we kept each other focused. He's gifted, confident, and knows exactly what he wants to do. We've seen it so many times, and he's done it again."