New Zealand cricketer Martin Guptill announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday. The 38-year-old last represented New Zealand in October 2022, according to ESPNcricinfo.
Despite his retirement from international play, Guptill will remain active in T20 leagues globally. He is currently competing in the Super Smash, New Zealand's domestic T20 tournament, and has also entered the draft for the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where Islamabad United may choose to retain him.
Guptill has played 198 One Day Internationals (ODIs), amassing a total of 7,346 runs. He ranks third in all-time runs scored for New Zealand in ODIs, behind only Ross Taylor (8,607) and Stephen Fleming (8,007). He is widely regarded as a legend in limited-overs cricket.
In a statement from New Zealand Cricket (NZC), Guptill expressed his gratitude for the experiences he had while representing his country. "As a young kid, it was always my dream to play for New Zealand, and I feel incredibly lucky and proud to have played 367 games for my country. I will forever cherish the memories made wearing the silver fern alongside a great group of guys. I want to say a huge thanks to all my teammates and coaching staff over the years, particularly Mark O'Donnell, who has coached me since the Under-19 level and has been a source of ongoing support and wisdom throughout my career," Guptill stated, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
He expressed his gratitude to all the cricket fans for their unwavering support throughout the year.
"I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to my wife Laura and our wonderful children, Harley and Teddy. Laura, your sacrifices for me and our family have not gone unnoticed. You have been my greatest supporter, my foundation, and my advisor through the many challenges and triumphs of this sport. I am forever thankful. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge all the cricket fans, both in New Zealand and globally, for their continuous support over the years," he remarked.
In the T20I format, Guptill stands as the highest run scorer for the Black Caps, amassing 3531 runs from 122 matches at a strike rate of 135.70, with an average of 31.81.
The 38-year-old has also played in 47 Test matches for New Zealand between 2009 and 2016, accumulating 2586 runs at an average of 29.38.
