India, June 13 -- One of the finest batters of his time and the face of New Zealand cricket's most successful era, Kane Williamson announced his retirement from international cricket on Friday, ending a distinguished career marked by consistency, impeccable temperament and exemplary leadership.

Arguably New Zealand's greatest ever batter, Williamson's announcement pulls the curtain down on a glorious 16-year international career that has seen him play 378 games for his country, setting countless batting records and earning the respect and admiration of the cricketing world. His decision follows an earlier call to step away from T20 Internationals in 2025.

"I've thought about it for a while, but over the last few days it's become clear n...