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CSK Star To Lead New Zealand? 3 Potential Captaincy Replacements For Kane Williamson

Williamson will no longer lead Kiwis in white-ball cricket (X)Williamson will no longer lead Kiwis in white-ball cricket (X)

In a fresh blow for New Zealand Cricket, Kane Williamson has stepped down as the white-ball captain and declined a central contract for the 2024-25 season.

This decision comes after New Zealand's dismal World Cup campaign. They failed to advance to the Super Eight after losing their first two games to Afghanistan and the West Indies in Group C.

Williamson's departure as white-ball captain marks the end of an era. His tenure included notable performances in ICC white-ball tournaments. 

With Williamson stepping down, New Zealand must appoint a new limited-overs captain. He had already relinquished the Test captaincy in 2022, focusing solely on leading the team in limited-overs cricket. 

Under his leadership, New Zealand narrowly lost the 2019 World Cup final to England, were defeated by Australia in the 2021 T20 World Cup final, but triumphed in the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021. The question now is, who will carry forward this legacy? Here are three likely candidates:


Mitchell Santner

Santner remains a leading contender for the captaincy role. Whenever New Zealand Cricket has rested Williamson, the 32-year-old has often been the preferred choice. 

To date, he has led the Black Caps in 23 games: 22 T20Is and one ODI. His track record as captain is solid, with 12 wins out of 22 T20Is and a victory in the solitary ODI.


Daryl Mitchell

Over the past two years, Daryl Mitchell has cemented himself as a key player across all formats for the Black Caps. Although the seam-bowling all-rounder hasn't captained the team before, his importance as a player could make him a candidate for leadership. 

Despite being in his 30s, Mitchell remains a viable option, as he hasn't shown any intention of stepping away from the game soon.


Glenn Phillips

Glenn Phillips might be New Zealand's best bet for a long-term captaincy option. At just 27 years old, he has become a regular in both ODIs and T20Is. Phillips has established himself as a white-ball cricket specialist and is also a capable wicketkeeper-batter.  

Additionally, his ability to contribute with off-spin bowling makes him a versatile asset for the team. In December 2022, Phillips expressed his desire to lead the national team one day, indicating his ambition to captain the Kiwis.