Kane Williamson, the former captain of New Zealand, has announced his retirement from T20 Internationals, concluding a notable career of 93 matches. This decision comes just days before a five-match series against the West Indies and only four months ahead of the T20 World Cup scheduled in India and Sri Lanka. The 35-year-old batsman retires as New Zealand's second-highest run-scorer in T20Is, having scored 2575 runs at an average of 33, which includes 18 half-centuries and a top score of 95.

Williamson made his T20I debut in 2011 and has captained the team in 75 matches, leading them to two ICC T20 World Cup semi-finals in 2016 and 2022, as well as a final in 2021. Reflecting on his time in the format, he stated, "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. It's the right time for myself and the team."

He emphasized the importance of clarity for the team as they prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup, noting, "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 [Santner] is a brilliant captain and leader, he's really come into his own with this team."

Williamson will miss the upcoming white-ball series against the West Indies to focus on the three-Test series starting on December 2 in Christchurch. He expressed his commitment to the team, saying, "I've got such deep care for this team. The BLACKCAPS is a special place and one you want to give yourself to and get the most out of yourself for."

New Zealand Cricket CEO Scott Weenink praised Williamson's contributions, calling his impact "immense". He acknowledged Williamson's leadership and performance, particularly highlighting his memorable innings in the T20 World Cup final. Williamson is expected to continue playing franchise cricket while focusing on his ODI and Test career moving forward. His next match is anticipated to be with Northern Districts in the Plunket Shield against Auckland on November 26.