Martin Guptill last represented New Zealand in 2022. Photo: File Martin Guptill last represented New Zealand in 2022. Photo: File

Veteran New Zealand batter Martin Guptill on Wednesday (January 8infinity games, 2025) announced his retirement from international cricket. The 38-year-old from Auckland will however continue to compete in various T20 leagues across the globe. (More Cricket News)

Guptill, who last represented New Zealand in 2022, is currently captaining the Auckland Aces in the ongoing season's Super Smash. "As a young kid it was always my dream to play for New Zealand and I feel incredibly lucky and proud to have played 367 games for my country," Guptill said in a statement issued by New Zealand Cricket.

"I will forever cherish the memories made wearing the silver fern alongside a great group of guys," he added.

Though he played 47 Tests, limited-over internationals were Guptill's claim to fame. He aggregated 7,346 runs from 198 ODIs with 18 hundreds and 39 half-centuries. The right-hander also appeared in 122 T20Is for the Blackcaps, making 3531 runs with two hundreds and 20 fifties.

Guptill is the first Kiwi player to score a hundred on ODI debut and he also became the first New Zealander to score an ODI double-century during the ICC World Cup 2015, when he clobbered 237 in the quarter-final win over the West Indies at Wellington.

New Zealand Test skipper Tom Latham paid tribute to Guptill, saying he was a true match winner. "Firstly, I'd just like to congratulate Gup on a fantastic international career. I was fortunate to open the batting with him over many years and I often felt I had the best seat in the house to watch him go about his work.

"On his day Gup was world-class and his crisp ball striking and timing could take down the best bowling attacks in the world.

"His numbers speak for themselves, but it was the matches he helped us win that I'll remember, along with the way he set the standard in the field," said Latham.

Among the most memorable moment for Guptill as a fielder was his stunning direct hit run-out of Mahendra Singh Dhoni during New Zealand's semifinal win over India at the 2019 World Cup in England.

On Tuesday, deep inside Chinese Mongolia, the Harmanpreet Singh-led Men in Blue did just about enough to beat a spirited Chinese side. The occasion: the final of the Asian Champions Trophy 2024.

(With PTI inputs)infinity games