Kane Williamson set for IPL return in new role
What's the story
New Zealand cricket sensation Kane Williamson is all set to return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 but in a different capacity.
The former Gujarat Titans (GT) player, who was released by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, will be joining as a commentator.
This decision comes after GT retained only five players and opted not to keep Williamson for the upcoming season.
Here's more.
Player's journey
Injuries have limited Williamson's IPL appearances
Williamson's IPL journey has been plagued by injuries, restricting him to just three matches since joining Gujarat Titans.
Despite the setback, Williamson boasts an impressive IPL record of 2,128 runs in 79 matches at an average of 35.47 while striking at 125.62 alongside 18 half-centuries.
His stint with GT lasted just one season after being bought for ₹2 crore last year.
New role
Williamson's future plans and PSL commitment
Despite not stepping onto the field in IPL 2025, Williamson continues to be active in international cricket.
Meanwhile, he has been signed by Karachi Kings for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025, where he will join his former Sunrisers Hyderabad teammate David Warner.
Initially unsold in the PSL 2025 auction in the platinum category, he was subsequently picked up by Karachi Kings in a supplementary round of selections.
Schedule clash
PSL 2025 schedule set to clash with IPL
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had earlier released the schedule for the 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
The tournament will kick off on April 11, 2025, with a match between defending champions Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Notably, the 2025 PSL will overlap with the IPL, which is scheduled from March 22 to May 25.
Additionally, this also means Williamson might have to juggle his commitments, possibly missing some PSL matches
Twitter Post
Official X post from Star Sports confirming Williamson's role
The voices behind the most ‘𝙋𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚’ IPL ever! 🎙🔥
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 21, 2025
18th birthday of the #IndianPossibleLeague deserves a Starcast as electrifying! as the season itself!
IPL legends, World Cup winners & expert analyst, this Starcast will bring you every twist, tactic & impossible… pic.twitter.com/SSyiuTpvwv