All-rounder Amelia Kerr will lead New Zealand in all formats, replacing Sophie Devine, who retired from ODIs after the 2025 World Cup and stepped down as T20I captain. Kerr will start her complete captaincy duties when she leads New Zealand in upcoming home ODI and T20I matches against Zimbabwe this month.

The 25-year-old has played 84 ODIs and 88 T20Is for New Zealand since her international debut in 2016. Her ODI achievements include 2304 runs which she scored at an average of 41.14 and her 106 wickets which she obtained at a bowling average of 30.61. In T20Is, Kerr has made 1453 runs at a strike rate of 109.74 and picked up 95 wickets with an impressive economy rate of 6.09. She also adds strong leadership credentials, having led Wellington Blaze to back-to-back Super Smash titles in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.

Kerr in a statement as quoted by ESPNcricinfo: "The captaincy doesn't change who I am, I am still the same person and will give everything I can to lead this group and hopefully bring our country success. One of my favourite quotes is: 'He aha te mea nui o te ao? He Tāngata, He Tāngata, He Tāngata. We are people first. As a group we look out for each other, we celebrate each other's success and we represent our people. Encouraging others and building belief around us so we can all be the best we can be both as people and as cricketers.” 

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Head coach Ben Sawyer described Kerr as a key figure in the squad and praised her leadership qualities. The team trusts her to lead the team through different match formats according to him. The New Zealand cricket board will announce their Zimbabwe series squads on February 20 which will begin with a three-match T20I series on February 25 in Hamilton.