New Zealand is set to miss the services of their skipper Kane Williamson for the ODI World Cup later this year in India due to the knee injury he sustained during the opening match of the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League.
In a statement released by New Zealand Cricket on Thursday, They confirmed Williamson had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He is expected to undergo surgery within the next three weeks.
New Zealand Cricket said that given the expected rehabilitation time, it is unlikely Williamson will be fit to lead New Zealand to the World Cup in October and November. Williamson led New Zealand to the finals of the 2019 ODI World Cup before losing to England in a super over.
Injury Update | Kane Williamson will require surgery on his injured right knee, after scans on Tuesday confirmed he’d ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament while fielding for the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League. More at the link https://t.co/3VZV7AcnL2 pic.twitter.com/tN0e7X8tme
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) April 5, 2023
Wicketkeeper Tom Latham is New Zealand’s vice-captain and led the side during the recent one-day series when Williamson has been rested. Latham will be leading the Blackcaps in the ODI and T20 series against Pakistan as their star players will miss out on the series due to IPL 2023.
The star middle-order batter Kane Williamson dealt with a serious injury that ruled him out of the Indian Premier League 2023. In their first match against CSK, Williamson seriously injured his knee trying to save a boundary in the game against Chennai Super Kings in the first game.
Kane Williamson was seen in terrible pain and immediately received treatment from the physio but could not continue the game, and later on, he was taken to the hospital for scans. With the scans result out, it was revealed Williamson could further take part in the tournament.
Gujarat Titans’ debut didn’t go well for the Kiwis captain as it was his first season outside Sunrisers Hyderabad, who released him ahead IPL 2023 auction. Williamson was released by Sunrisers Hyderabad and was bought on his base price of 2 crores by Gujarat Titans for the new season.
I’ll Be Doing Everything To Get Back On The Field – Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson, who flew back to New Zealand following his knee injury thanked the Gujarat Titans and New Zealand Cricket for their support during his tough times.
“I’ve received great support over the past few days and want to thank both the Gujarat Titans and New Zealand Cricket for that,” Williamson said.
The 32-year-old said that he was disappointed to get injured, but he would try to make comeback as soon as possible for his team.
“Naturally it’s disappointing to get such an injury but my focus now is on having the surgery and starting rehab. It’s going to take some time but I’ll be doing everything I can to get back on the field as soon as possible,” he concluded.
Kane Williamson’s injury will be a huge blow for Kiwis, as he is a more experienced player in that setup and the Blackcaps will look to develop a player for the Number 3 spot for New Zealand ahead of the 2023 ODI World Cup.