Two months ahead of ODI World Cup 2023 in India, Kane Williamson joined the New Zealand team training camp. Williamson is not ready for the international action yet but looked confident while batting in the nets.
Earlier this year, Williamson got injured while taking a catch for Gujarat Titans (GT) in the opening clash of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He was ruled out of IPL 2023 and international action as he suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee.
"Great to see some of the guys and some of the new faces too," Williamson said while speaking from the training camp at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
“Looking forward to the team camp. Nice to have it here at home as well in the Mount [Maunganui], and get into some training and to just reconnect a little bit.”
Earlier this week, the 32-year-old shared a video of himself batting in the nets on Instagram.
"It's nice to see him with a bat in his hand and hitting the balls again, albeit it's not right at the level that he is to perform internationally," New Zealand’s head coach, Gary Stead said.
"It's set certainly on the road to recovery, and it's hugely silver linings in injuries and how you look at them, and to keep saying, 'hey, I am invested in this team and I really want to keep playing for this team', is magic to hear."
The Kiwi batter is facing a race against time to regain full fitness ahead of the ODI World Cup. Meanwhile, New Zealand will tour UAE and England in the build up of quadrennial event.
Runners-up of the previous edition, New Zealand will start their World Cup campaign against defending champions England at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, the same venue where Williamson got injured while attempting a catch on the boundary.
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