If not fit to play, Williamson could be a New Zealand team mentor at the ODI World Cup

The team management is keen to bringing injured batter Kane Williamson to India for the ODI World Cup later this year as a mentor. Meanwhile, New Zealand head coach Gary Stead has not ruled Williamson out of the World Cup.

Williamson returned home from India on crutches after rupturing his right Anterior Cruciate Ligament in the opening game of IPL 2023. He received successful surgery. Williamson’s knee is braced during therapy.

“Look, it’s still far too early to know,” Stead stated before the five-match ODI series in Pakistan. The operation was successful, as far as we know. He’s just starting rehab.It’s braced and non-weight-bearing. It’s just hitting milestones. Kane is doubtful to be available, but we don’t want to rule out a player of his caliber and everything he contributes to this team too early.

“Definitely [mentor him in India].”

The ODI World Cup will likely begin on October 5 and end on November 19, with 12 Indian cities shortlisted as venues. The exact schedule has not yet been revealed. The ICC usually publishes World Cup plans a year in advance, but this time it has been waiting for the BCCI to acquire Indian government clearances. The scheduling delay has hampered New Zealand’s long-term planning.

“It [schedule] isn’t out yet, so there’s not much we can do about that,” Stead remarked. “So it keeps our options pretty open without knowing the venues and who we are performing at different venues.

Thus, finalizing plans is challenging right now. However, that allows current squad members to play for New Zealand in Pakistan. World Cup hopeful Mark Chapman

Mark Chapman came off the bench and smashed an unbeaten 104 off 57 balls to help his team score 194 to tie the T20I series 2-2 in Rawalpindi. Stead said Chapman was added to New Zealand’s ODI team and considered for the World Cup.

Chapman has played five ODIs for New Zealand since his 2018 debut.

He is a good spin player due to his early years with Hong Kong in Asian and subcontinental conditions.

“Considering the number of IPL players, the [T20I] series result itself was fantastic for the team,” Stead added. We played a full-strength Pakistan team that reached the T20 World Cup final. To draw two-all against them and perform well, especially in the last T20 game, was great.

“Mark Chapman-James Neesham was huge. It wasn’t a great start, but the two of them handled it well. Mark Chapman was selected to the ODI squad because there is a lot of contention for places, but it’s more about developing towards the World Cup. We’re thinking about Mark Chapman.” Can Martin Guptill return?

Mike Hesson, the former New Zealand coach who coaches Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, thinks Martin Guptill, a free agent, could replace Williamson in the ODI team due to his experience. In PSL 2023, Guptill led Quetta Gladiators with 310 runs in nine innings at 38.75 and a strike rate of over 150.

“I think World Cups do require experience and I think Martin Guptill is one of those guys that has always turned up at World Cups,” Hesson told Logan van Beek on Sky Sports NZ. “I think he would be very much in their thoughts and the opportunity for [Devon] Conway to either stay at the top or bat at No. 3 depending on whether other player comes up and says: ‘Look, I must be included’.

I don’t think the World Cup needs too many fresh players. You want to mix young talent with expertise. Missing Kane degrades that experience. Martin Guptill returns. He has done well in recent T20 tournaments, especially the PSL.”