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The World Cup T20 knock of captain Kane 'humble' Williamson that defined his art of calm

Soumyajit Dutta

Kane Williamson playing against Australia in 2021 [Source: @amer_jamal/X.com]Kane Williamson playing against Australia in 2021 [Source: @amer_jamal/X.com]

Kane Williamson hung up his boots from T20I cricket on November 2, 2025, passing on the baton to the younger generation. Known for his calm and elegant batting style, Williamson has also been a dominant force in T20Is for New Zealand. With 2,575 runs from 93 matches at a modest strike rate of 123.08, he played one of his most memorable knocks in the 2021 T20 World Cup final against Australia.

In a final played on a tricky, two-paced pitch during a tournament that saw the lowest scoring rate in T20 World Cup history, Kane Williamson produced a brilliant 85-run knock at a strike rate of 177.08, raising the tempo for New Zealand in the title clash.

Kane Williamson 'steadies the ship' for New Zealand

Williamson’s 85 off 48 balls remains the highest individual score by a captain in a T20 World Cup final, a record that still stands after two more editions of the tournament. Coming in to bat on a sultry Dubai evening on November 14, 2021, when New Zealand were 28/1 after four overs, Williamson anchored the innings under pressure. With Australia having enjoyed a dominant campaign that year, any early collapse could have shattered New Zealand’s hopes.

Playing a true captain’s knock, Williamson struck 10 boundaries and 3 sixes in his 85, building key partnerships,  68 runs off 37 balls with Glenn Phillips and 48 runs with Martin Guptill. His innings ended in the 18th over when Josh Hazlewood deceived him with a leg-cutter, leading to a mistimed shot that was caught by Steve Smith at long-off.

Despite Williamson’s heroics, New Zealand couldn’t defend their total as Australia’s batting lineup, led by David Warner’s 53 and Mitchell Marsh’s unbeaten 77 off 50 balls, chased down the target to lift the 2021 title.

Nevertheless, as Kane Williamson bows out of T20I cricket, the world will remember the grace and composure he brought to the Black Caps, and that unforgettable knock in one of the biggest stages of the shortest format.