New Zealand cricket star and former captain Kane Williamson has announced his retirement from T20 Internationals with immediate effect, just days before the start of the five-match T20I series against the West Indies. The 35-year-old, who represented New Zealand in 93 T20Is, made the decision after being appointed as the strategic advisor for the IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants for the 2026 season. Following the announcement, he was left out of New Zealand’s 14-member squad for the upcoming series, beginning Wednesday in Auckland.
Williamson finished his T20I career as New Zealand’s second-highest run-scorer in men’s T20Is, amassing 2,575 runs at an average of 33, including 18 half-centuries and a highest score of 95, though he never reached a century in the format. He also confirmed he would skip the ODI series against the West Indies to focus on the three-match Test series. Across formats, Williamson has scored over 19,000 international runs, and in T20Is, he led the team in 75 matches, including two T20 World Cup semifinals (2016, 2022) and the final in 2021.
Reflecting on his journey, Williamson said, “It’s something that I’ve loved being a part of for a long period of time and I’m so grateful for the memories and experiences.” He made his T20I debut in 2011 and became one of New Zealand’s most respected leaders and consistent performers in the shortest format. His calm demeanour, leadership, and batting finesse have left a lasting legacy in New Zealand cricket.
