New Zealand on Sunday revealed its 14-member T20I squad for the forthcoming West Indies series, beginning Wednesday at Eden Park, Auckland. The decision arrived hours after Kane Williamson declared his exit from the format. I watched the selection unfold with a mix of surprise and relief — the selectors preferred balance over experimentation. Kyle Jamieson and Ish Sodhi mark their comebacks. Jamieson returns after a side injury that kept him out of the England ODIs. Sodhi, the most capped Kiwi in this format, rejoins after the October clash against Australia. The Black caps head coach Rob Walter said, “Kyle’s been back bowling this week and is tracking nicely for this series… Ish is our most capped T20I player and it’s always great to add his skills, energy and experience to the group." Uncapped all-rounder Nathan Smith finds a maiden T20I call-up. Smith, who featured in Test and ODI squads last season, might finally earn his debut cap. Matt Henry, meanwhile, remains absent owing to a planned conditioning program ahead of the ODIs and Tests. Read also: Kane Williamson steps down from T20I cricket; when will he play the next game? Williamson’s departure marks an emotional shift Williamson, the face of New Zealand’s modern cricket, was not considered for selection after calling time on his T20I journey earlier in the day. On Kane's retirement, Walter siad, “His contribution to the team in this format has been immense, both in terms of his runs and leadership. To have captained the T20 side in 75 of his 93 games gives an indication of his influence and service." The five-match West Indies series stands as New Zealand’s final T20I engagement before the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Focusing on rhythm and home advantage, Walter added, “It’s great to have five opportunities to take on a dangerous side like the West Indies.” Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, Glenn Phillips, and Ben Sears remain sidelined due to injuries. The West Indies will arrive Sunday for a full tour running till Christmas. New Zealand squad: Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi.