New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said his team needed to regroup after its shocked early exit from the T20 World Cup. Williamsons has been inducted as one of the all-format players, having been more than a decade-long mainstay of the BlackCaps batting order in modern-day cricket.
Under his captaincy, New Zealand has made it to the finals of three big tournaments: the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cups, the 2021 T20 World Cup, and the inaugural World Test Championship, which they won. But after all that, he continued to be non-committal when asked about participation in the 2026 edition of the T20 World Cup."When asked if he'd return for the 2026 edition, Williamson said: "Oh, I don't know."
As he reflected on the recent campaign that drew to a close with the comfortable win over Papua New Guinea, Williamson acknowledged missing the semifinals for the first time in nearly ten years. He added that transition lay ahead, suggesting the focus over the next year is red-ball cricket and other international formats.
While discussing this short-lived stint at the T20 World Cup, Williamson added, "I think no matter what happens, you're always want to do more.
"But it's been really unique, a unique experience for all the guys. The conditions have been challenging I think for batters all around, but it's just about trying to find a way."
New Zealand's tournament began late, and they very quickly found themselves ruled out of contention for the Super Eights following losses in consecutive days to Afghanistan and West Indies. Williamson described the frustration of their delayed start and rapid exit, which he said left them with no other conclusion but to point to the strength of the opposition and the challenging conditions.
Though disappointed, Williamson highlighted the great lessons learned, especially adapting to different conditions, which he felt would benefit them all in such future endeavors.
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