'We'll see where things land' - Kane Williamson ponders upon T20I future after T20 World Cup debacle

New Zealand were eliminated from the group stage for the first time in T20 World Cup history. The Kane Williamson-led side suffered back-to-back defeats against West Indies and Afghanistan, which played a massive part in their elimination. 

After the completion of the tournament for them, there’s a sense of change in the air. Ace pacer Trent Boult announced his retirement from T20I cricket, while Williamson too isn’t very sure about his future in the shortest format. The 34-year-old will be 36 by the time the next T20 World Cup is being played and keeping that in mind, Williamson shared that the players will regroup again in some time and a decision will be taken when the time comes.

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“Oh, I don't know. There's a bit of time between now and then, so it's about regrouping as a side. We've got red-ball cricket over the next year basically, so it's back into some other international formats, and we'll see where things land,” Williamson was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo when asked about his participation in the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Williamson has to make a decision now after a disappointing World Cup: Stephen Fleming

Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming understands that Williamson will be in a lot of pain after a disappointing campaign in the T20 World Cup. He believes that the team management and the selection committee will give him plenty of time to decide his future as he is a generational talent but expects the cricketer to take the decision soon for a smooth process. 

“It hasn't really been questioned over here, due to his genius with the bat, but he has to make a decision now after a disappointing World Cup. What does his future hold? Is it all three formats, is it franchise cricket, is it family time? He will be getting to that point where he starts making decisions that have other influences, whereas before it was cricket and cricket only.

"He will be afforded the luxury of time because he's a generational player and he'll be hurting a lot. The older New Zealand players would have looked at this as maybe their last good opportunity, so it might be that it's time to move on, or he'll steel himself to right the wrongs for the next one. But he's not a guy that gives away a lot, so it'd be interesting to see what he does,” Fleming said.

Williamson quit Test captaincy in 2022, which Tim Southee later took over. He is currently leading the team in white-ball cricket but there are concerns about his future after the T20 World Cup 2024 disappointment.