‘What a calm storm…’: Kane Williamson’s former Sunrisers Hyderabad teammate hails him after the legend announces his retirement from T20Is

Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan heaped praise on New Zealand legend Kane Williamson, calling him a “calm storm” of T20 cricket for his composed and elegant batting style. Williamson recently announced his retirement from T20 Internationals, ending a remarkable career in the shortest format.

The 35-year-old played 93 T20Is for New Zealand, amassing over 2,500 runs with consistency and class. Known for his calm demeanor and tactical brilliance, Williamson captained the Blackcaps in 75 matches, leading them to two ICC T20 World Cup semi-finals (2016 and 2022) and one final in 2021.

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Although stepping away from T20Is, Williamson will continue to represent New Zealand in Tests and ODIs, where his leadership and batting will remain vital assets for the team.

Williamson’s former Sunrisers Hyderabad teammate Shikhar Dhawan wrote a message for him on X “Bro #KaneWilliamson, what a calm storm you’ve been in T20Is! Always admired the way you led with composure and batted with grace. Wishing you happiness and success in every innings beyond this format!“

“It’s something that I’ve loved being a part of for a long period of time and I’m so grateful for the memories and experiences. It’s the right time for myself and the team. It gives the team clarity for the series moving forward and ahead of their next major focus which is the T20 World Cup. There’s so much T20 talent there and the next period will be important to get cricket into these guys and get them ready for the World Cup,” Williamson said in a statement on Sunday.