Kane Williamson, the captain of the New Zealand cricket team in white-ball cricket, is set to be part of the 15-player squad for the Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 to be played in India. He’s on the road to recovery after having surgery on his right knee.
The injury happened during an IPL 2023 match between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings on March 31st in Ahmedabad. While trying to prevent a six from Ruturaj Gaikwad, Williamson hurt his knee when landing awkwardly.
This forced him to leave the field and eventually led to his withdrawal from the rest of IPL 2023. He returned home for surgery in early April, and his chances of participating in the World Cup, scheduled for October 5 to November 19 in India, were initially uncertain.
According to New Zealand Cricket (NZC), Kane Williamson has made good progress in his recovery, and they’ve decided to include him in the World Cup squad. Currently, Williamson is in England with the New Zealand white-ball team, where he’s still working on his rehabilitation from the injury. This upcoming World Cup will mark his fourth appearance in the Men’s ODI World Cup.
Coach Gary Stead mentioned that although Kane Williamson has been selected, it doesn’t guarantee his availability for the first match against England on October 5 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. However, he reassured that Williamson is making significant strides in his recovery, which is positive news.
In the 2019 Men’s ODI World Cup, Kane Williamson was New Zealand’s top run-scorer, amassing 578 runs with an impressive average of 82.57. This included two centuries and two fifties. He was recognized as the Player of the Tournament.
Despite his outstanding performance, New Zealand faced a heart-wrenching loss in the final against England, which went into a Super Over after the scores were tied at Lord’s. The rest of the New Zealand squad for the World Cup will be announced on September 11 in Auckland.
