Veteran New Zealand player Kane Williamson is likely to miss the ODI Cricket World Cup after suffering a knee injury in the ongoing IPL 2023. Williamson, who was ruled out of the cash-rich league after Gujarat Titans’ opening match, will undergo surgery on his right knee, where he sustained the injury, revealed New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Thursday.

The board further added that the “standard rehabilitation timelines mean that Williamson is now unlikely to be fit and available for selection at this year’s ICC ODI Cricket World Cup in India”.

However, according to the scans, Kane Williamson ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament while fielding for his team Gujarat Titans against Chennai Super Kings on March 31. He is likely to have surgery on his injured knee within the next three weeks. Williamson, who led New Zealand to the runners-up in the 2019 World Cup, said that he will focus on the surgery and start rehab as soon as possible also.

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“I’ve received great support over the past few days and want to thank both the Gujarat Titans and New Zealand Cricket for that,” Williamson said. “Naturally, it’s disappointing to get such an injury, but my focus now is on having the surgery and starting rehab It’s going to take some time, but I’ll be doing everything I can to get back on the field as soon as possible.”

Kane Williamson also shared that he will do whatever it takes to get fit soon with the help of head coach Gary Stead and the team as well.

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“I look forward to doing what I can to support Gary and the team over the next few months,” Kane Williamson concluded.

However, IPL 2023 defending champions Gujarat Titans announced the replacement of Williamson and he is Sri Lanka’s white-ball captain Dasun Shanaka. The Sri Lankan joined the team to feature in his maiden IPL for a base price of INR 50 lakh as well.