Guptill Reflects on His New Zealand Cricket Journey: A Bittersweet Farewell

New Delhi, Jan 9 (NationPress) Following his retirement from international cricket, former New Zealand opening batsman Martin Guptill feels he had more to offer to the national team and conveyed a sense of disappointment about how everything concluded.

The 38-year-old cricketer, who surrendered his contract to seek playing opportunities elsewhere in late 2022, officially announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday. He participated in 367 matches (198 ODIs, 122 T20Is, 47 Tests) for the Black Caps, amassing 23 international centuries across all formats.

Guptill wrapped up his 14-year international career (from 2009 to 2022) as New Zealand's top T20I run-scorer with 3,531 runs from 122 T20I matches, and his 7,346 ODI runs positioned him third on the ODI leaderboard behind Ross Taylor and Stephen Fleming.

"It is what it is, and the decisions that have been made around it. I would have loved to have played more; I feel like I had a lot more to give New Zealand Cricket and the Black Caps. But it is what it is. I’m a little bit disappointed with how it all ended, but I’ve got to move forward and move on," Guptill was quoted by New Zealand Herald.

Guptill made his mark on the international stage in 2009, becoming the first New Zealander to score a century on ODI debut against the West Indies at Eden Park. Additionally, he was the first New Zealander to achieve an ODI double-century during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, scoring 237 not out in the quarterfinal victory over the West Indies at Wellington Stadium.

This innings, along with his unbeaten 189 against England in Southampton in 2013 and 180 not out against South Africa at Hamilton in 2017, ranks among New Zealand's top four individual ODI scores.

Guptill also recorded two T20I centuries: 101 not out off 69 balls against South Africa at Buffalo Park in East London in 2012 and 105 off 54 balls against Australia six years later in Auckland.

He participated in 47 Tests for New Zealand, scoring 17 half-centuries and three hundreds: 189 against Bangladesh at Seddon Park in 2010, 109 against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo's Queens Sports Club in 2011, and 156 against Sri Lanka in Dunedin in 2015.

His highest Test score of 189 against Bangladesh came while batting at number five, but Guptill preferred to open the innings, which he considered his best position.

"I had the chance to keep batting at five, but I wanted to return to the top. I have no regrets; I gave it my all and had a blast doing it. One of my proudest moments was receiving a black cap, which I proudly display at home," he stated.

His fielding skills were regarded as world-class, consistently setting high standards for the Black Caps with numerous spectacular catches, saves, and run-outs. Notably, he concluded the international career of Indian legend MS Dhoni with a run-out during the 2019 World Cup semifinal.

Currently, Guptill is leading the Auckland Aces in the Super Smash and will continue his career in T20 franchise cricket.