WATCH - Kane Williamson returns to nets after knee surgery as ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 nears

Wellington: Anticipation builds as New Zealand's white-ball captain was seen batting in the nets in a video he posted on Instagram, hinting at a return from a major injury just in time for this year's marquee event.

New Zealand's white-ball captain and star batter Kane Williamson could be in line to make his comeback from a right-knee injury ahead of the fast-approaching ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 in October-November.

Williamson, who led his side to the World Cup Final in 2019, ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while fielding for the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League in April this year. Subsequently, he underwent surgery in New Zealand and was going through rehabilitation, an ICC report on Tuesday said.

"Nice to be back in the nets with the bat in hand for a few throws," said Williamson in his latest video, hinting at a much-anticipated return to action.

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A post shared by Kane Williamson (@kane_s_w)

The Blackcaps skipper was his side's highest run-getter in the 2019 World Cup with 578 runs at 82.57, featuring two centuries and two fifties, and was also adjudged Player of the Tournament.

His return to the World Cup fold would be a major boost for the Kiwis, who have been in great form in ICC tournaments lately - two 50-over World Cup Final appearances in 2015 and 2019, World Test Championship winners in 2021 and in the same year, they were also the finalists of the T20 World Cup.

New Zealand kickstart their World Cup campaign with the tournament opener against the 2019 champions England, on October 5, at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad with the final scheduled to be played at the same venue on November 19. (UNI)