Kane Williamson retires from New Zealand T20Is

Kane Williamson has retired from T20 internationals after 93 matches, finishing with 2,575 runs (about a 33.4 average) and 18 fifties. He captained New Zealand in 75 games, leading the side to the 2021 World Cup final and two semi-finals (2016, 2022), and said the move gives the team clarity ahead of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup while allowing new leaders under Mitchell Santner to prepare emerging talent. Williamson will remain available for Tests and ODIs and is expected to return for New Zealand’s home Test series against the West Indies in December. New Zealand named a 14‑man squad for a five‑match T20I series against the West Indies starting in early November, recalling Kyle Jamieson and Ish Sodhi and including uncapped all‑rounder Nathan Smith. Several players — Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, Glenn Phillips and Ben Sears — are unavailable through injury and Matt Henry will miss the series for conditioning; these T20 matches are New Zealand’s final T20 assignment before coach Rob Walter selects a preliminary World Cup squad.