Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has announced his retirement from international T20 cricket. He is the country’s second-highest run-scorer in this format, having scored 2,575 runs in 93 matches at an average of 33.
The 35-year-old veteran batter has decided to step away from T20Is at a time when less than four months remain before the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Williamson made his T20I debut for New Zealand in 2011 and captained the side in all 93 of his matches. Under his leadership, New Zealand reached the semifinals of the 2016 and 2022 T20 World Cups and the final in 2021.
In a statement published on the New Zealand Cricket website, Williamson said, “I’m grateful to have been part of this format for such a long time. I’ve gathered countless memories and experiences that have enriched me as a player and a person. Now is the right time to step aside—for myself and for the team. This will give the team a clear direction as they prepare for future series and World Cups.”
He added, “We have a lot of T20 talent in our squad. The upcoming period is crucial to prepare them. Mitch (Santner) is a fantastic captain and leader—he’s already established himself in that role. It’s now their time to take the Black Caps forward in this format, and I’ll be supporting them from afar.”
After the 2024 T20 World Cup, Williamson stepped down from white-ball captaincy and hasn’t played in the format since. Due to family commitments, franchise league involvement, and recurring injuries, he has become a selective participant in international cricket.
He missed the recent T20I series against Australia and England due to injury. Although he returned for the ODI series against England, he missed the final match after getting injured again.
Despite retiring from international T20s, Williamson will continue to play ODIs, Tests, and franchise T20 cricket.