Blackcaps captain Kane Williamson has been released by Indian Premier League (IPL) team Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of the upcoming 2023 auction.
Williamson was the side's most expensive player during last season's campaign, and his departure will free up much-needed cap space, as they look to rebuild.
The Kiwi batter spent eight years at the franchise, scoring 2101 runs at an average of 36 and a strike rate of 126, and captained them on 46 occasions.
But Williamson's poor performances in 2022, averaging less than 20 and a strike rate of under 100, has seen the Sunrisers cut ties with the veteran.
The IPL side haven't ruled out buying Williamson back at the 2023 IPL auction on December 23 at Kochi, as they looked to bounce back after a disastrous 2022 campaign.
The Sunrisers finished eighth out of 10 teams, with only six wins from 14 games, with Williamson's struggles a major contribution.
Williamson was one of three players retained by the franchise before the 2022 auction, which saw Afghanistan leg-spinning sensation Rashid Khan let go.
The Sunrisers spent INR 14 crore (NZ$2.8m) to keep Williamson - the highest-ever retention fee for an overseas player.
