Kane Williamson has officially announced his retirement from T20 Internationals marking the end of a remarkable chapter in the shortest format of the game. The announcement came on November 2, 2025, as the Blackcaps former captain decided to step aside and allow the next generation of players to take charge ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup cycle. Williamson’s decision has sent waves across the cricketing world, with fans and experts celebrating his extraordinary career and leadership.
Kane Williamson’s cricketing journey has been a symbol of composure, humility, and technical brilliance. Since making his T20I debut in 2011, he represented New Zealand in 93 T20Is scoring 2,575 runs at an average of 33.01 with a strike rate in the 122.98. He also registered 18 half-centuries, often anchoring the innings during high-pressure situations. Under his captaincy, New Zealand reached the 2021 T20 World Cup final and the semi-finals in 2016 and 2022, proving his ability to guide the team with vision and tactical intelligence.
He further added that his focus will now shift toward Test and ODI cricket, formats where his experience and patience continue to play a vital role. Williamson emphasized the importance of balance and longevity, suggesting that the growing schedule made it difficult to continue across all three formats.
I’ve got such deep care for this team,Williamson added.
The Black Caps is a special place and one you want to give yourself to and get the most out of yourself for. It’s a journey and a pursuit, and that’s what I love about the international game and this environment.
I’ll continue to keep the lines of communication open with Rob (coach Rob Walter) and NZC who have given me a huge amount of support throughout- he said