Wellington, Nov 2 (UNI) New Zealand captain Kane Williamson today announced his retirement from T20 Internationals, bringing the curtains down on a glittering 93-match career just four months ahead of the next T20 World Cup.
The 35-year-old batsman finishes as New Zealand’s second-highest run-scorer in men’s T20Is, with 2,575 runs at an average of 33, including 18 fifties and a top score of 95. Since making his T20I debut in 2011, Williamson captained the side in 75 matches, leading the BlackCaps to two World Cup semifinals (2016, 2022) and a final (2021).
“It’s something that I’ve loved being [Santner] part of for [Santner] long period of time and I’m grateful for the memories,” Williamson said. “It’s the right time for myself and the team. There’s so much T20 talent in the squad, and Mitch [Santner] has grown into [Santner] fine leader.”
Williamson, who stepped down from white-ball captaincy after New Zealand’s early exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup, has since managed a reduced international schedule to balance family and franchise commitments.
New Zealand Cricket CEO Scott Weenink hailed Williamson’s impact, calling his contribution “immense both as a batsman and as a leader.”
He said Williamson’s knock of 85 in the 2021 T20 World Cup final “remains one of the finest T20I innings by a New Zealander.”
Weenink added that Williamson retains full freedom to decide the course of his ODI and Test careers. “Whenever he does call time, he will go down as a legend of New Zealand cricket,” he said.
Williamson is expected to feature next for Northern Districts in the Plunket Shield from November 26 and will then lead New Zealand in the three-Test home series against the West Indies beginning December 2 in Christchurch.
