Kane Williamson Shocks Cricket World with Retirement Announcement

Kane Williamson has shocked fans with his retirement announcement from international cricket just before a Test match against England. The New Zealand cricketer, who amassed 9,515 runs in his career, received heartfelt tributes from fellow players, including David Warner. Williamson's journey in cricket, marked by significant achievements and leadership roles in the IPL, is celebrated as he steps away from the game. Discover more about his remarkable career and the impact he made on the sport.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 12, 2026, 18:28 IST

Kane Williamson's Unexpected Retirement

In a surprising turn of events, Kane Williamson has declared his retirement from international cricket just before the second Test match against England. The New Zealand cricketer, who was included in the squad for the entire Test series, concludes his illustrious career with a remarkable total of 9,515 runs, falling short of the coveted 10,000-run milestone by 485 runs. Following this announcement, tributes have been flooding in for the former captain, including a heartfelt message from David Warner, who played alongside him in the IPL. Warner expressed his admiration on social media, stating, 'Kano, it’s been an absolute privilege to play both alongside you and against you over the years. Your records and achievements speak volumes, but what stands out most is the person behind them. You’ve been one of the genuine good blokes of world cricket, humble and respectful, always playing the game in the right spirit. It’s been an honor to call you a teammate, an opponent, and most importantly, a friend. Wishing you and your family all the best for whatever comes next.'

Williamson, who played for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Gujarat Titans in the IPL, had several seasons under Warner's captaincy. He took over the leadership of SRH after Warner was banned for a year in 2018. Under Williamson's captaincy, SRH reached the IPL 2018 final but lost to Chennai Super Kings, with the Kiwi batsman finishing as the top scorer with 735 runs in 17 matches.

Warner Takes Over Captaincy Again

Williamson continued to lead SRH in IPL 2019, but Warner reclaimed the captaincy before IPL 2020. Williamson returned to the leadership role in IPL 2021 after SRH dismissed Warner from captaincy and the playing XI. He was released by SRH ahead of IPL 2023. Notably, Williamson secured the IPL trophy in 2016 under Warner's captaincy. Warner, who went unsold in the IPL 2025 mega-auction, last participated in the T20 league in 2024, while Williamson's last appearance was for Gujarat Titans in 2024.