- By Namrata Vijay
- Sun, 02 Nov 2025 09:03 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
New Zealand's star batter Kane Williamson has announced his retirement from the shortest format just a few months before the 2026 T20 World Cup. He announced his retirement from the shortest format on November 2 and revealed that he will continue playing in the longest format and ODIs.
He retired as New Zealand's highest run scorer in the shortest format, as he had scored 2575 runs after playing in 93 matches. He had also stopped playing in this format after the 2024 T20 World Cup.
After playing in 93 T20Is, he had led the side from the front in 75 T20Is. In his captaincy, the Kiwis were able to perform consistently as they had qualified for the 2016 and 2022 semi-finals of the T20 World Cup and the summit clash of the 2021 edition.
But he failed to take the team across the line.
Willimson revealed that it was the right time to retire from this format. He admitted that his retirement gave clarity to the whole side that is preparing for the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be held in India next year.
“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 told reporters in the press conference.
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“It’s the right time for me and the team. It gives the team clarity for the series moving forward and ahead of their next major focus, which is the T20 World Cup. There’s so much T20 talent there, and the next period will be important to get cricket into these guys and get them ready for the World Cup. Mitch is a brilliant captain and leader - he’s really come into his own with this team. It’s now their time to push the Blackcaps forward in this format, and I’ll be supporting from afar,” he concluded.
Although he will still play in the T20I franchise, which is being held in the world, he has also transitioned himself. He had joined LSG as the strategic advisor, which ended his career in IPL.