Blackcaps batter Kane Williamson will return home to New Zealand after injuring his knee in the Gujarat Titans’ opening match of the 2023 IPL season.
Williamson, 32, landed awkwardly while fielding on the boundary against the Chennai Super Kings and was carried from the field after struggling to bear weight on his right knee.
Titans’ Director of Cricket Vikram Solanki was sorry to lose the key player at such an early stage in the competition.
We regret to announce, Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the TATA IPL 2023, after sustaining an injury in the season opener against Chennai Super Kings.
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) April 2, 2023
We wish our Titan a speedy recovery and hope for his early return. pic.twitter.com/SVLu73SNpl
“It is sad to lose Kane to injury so early in the tournament,” Solanki said in a statement.
“We wish him a speedy recovery, with the hope of seeing him in action very soon.”
The New Zealand white-ball captain underwent initial scans with the Gujarat medical staff but will seek further advice on the extent of his injury upon his return home.
The Blackcaps remain hopeful that their star batter and skipper will recover in time for October’s ODI Cricket World Cup in India.