Kane Williamson has officially called time on his T20 international career, announcing on Sunday that it is the right moment “for myself and the team” to draw a line under this format as he continues to focus on Tests and possibly ODIs.

The 35-year-old made his T20I debut for the New Zealand men’s cricket team back in 2011, and over the next 14 years, he established himself as one of the leading lights in Kiwi white-ball cricket.

He leaves the T20 arena with a tally of 2,575 runs at an average of 33.44 in the format. During his T20I career, he scored 18 half-centuries, with a highest score of 95.

As captain, Williamson led New Zealand in 75 T20Is.

Under his stewardship, the Black Caps reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in 2016 and 2022, and the final in 2021, where Australia narrowly beat them.

Williamson explained his decision by pointing out that the T20 squad now has many talented youngsters ready to take over, and that by stepping aside now, he is giving clarity to the team ahead of their next major focus — the T20 World Cup.

However, this is not a full international farewell: he remains open-minded about his ODI future, and his immediate focus is on the upcoming three-Test series in December against the West Indies cricket team, which begins in Christchurch.

Added statistics & highlights:

Became the first New Zealand batter to cross the 19,000-run threshold in international cricket.

In Test cricket, his average hovers around the 50s, marking him as one of New Zealand’s most consistent top-order batsmen.

Against Pakistan in ODIs, he amassed 1,291 runs in just 25 matches at an average of 53.79.

Fact-Buzzer:

Despite retiring from T20s, Williamson still holds the record (for New Zealand) of being the most-capped captain in T20Is for the country (75 appearances), and his 2,575 runs make him one of the format’s most enduring Kiwi performers.

As the T20 chapter closes, Kane Williamson shifts his focus to the longer formats, offering New Zealand both his presence and experience when it matters most. A fitting moment of transition for one of the country’s great batsmen.