Former KKR player Colin Munro announces retirement from International Cricket

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New Zealand batter Colin Munro has announced his retirement from international cricket, as it was confirmed on Friday (May 10).

The left-hander's career spanned 123 matches, including a single Test, 57 ODIs, and 65 T20Is for the Black Caps. Munro, known for his explosive batting, last represented his country in a T20I against India at Bay Oval in 2020.

Over his career, Munro scored more than 3,000 international runs and took seven wickets. He leaves as New Zealand's sixth-highest T20I run-scorer, amassing 1,724 runs at an average of 31 and a strike rate of 156.4. Notably, he hit three T20 international centuries, the highest by any New Zealander.

Beginning his journey in international cricket on the 2012-13 South Africa tour, Munro made a significant impact in the limited-overs formats. He was part of the Kiwi squads for the T20 and ODI World Cups between 2014 and 2019, showcasing his talent on the global stage.

Munro set several records, including the fastest T20 century by a New Zealander in 47 balls against West Indies in 2018. His 14-ball fifty against Sri Lanka in 2016 remains the quickest T20 half-century by a New Zealander as well.

Reflecting on his career, Munro expressed immense pride in representing New Zealand and acknowledged that it was the right time to retire, especially with the announcement of the New Zealand squad for the T20 World Cup.

"Playing for the BLACKCAPS has always been the biggest achievement in my playing career," he said.

"I never felt prouder than donning that jersey, and the fact that I've been able to do that 123 times across all formats is something I will always be incredibly proud of," Munro added.

Among his career highlights, Munro cherished the team's journey to the 2019 World Cup final in England, sharing the experience with his family and teammates.

While Munro has retired from international cricket, he will continue to play in franchise cricket leagues around the world, bringing his aggressive and innovative batting style to fans globally.

The 37-year-old has represented three franchises in IPL as well- Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals. He has played 13 IPL matches, scoring 177 runs with a strike rate of 125.