Outgoing New Zealand captain Sophie Devine bid a quiet farewell to the One-Day game, with the White Ferns at the receiving end of an eight-wicket thrashing by England in their final league game in the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.

The 36-year-old reflected on her career with broadcaster and former England international Isa Guha.

“Disappointing, to be honest. Not to make it about myself, but I really wanted to go out on a high, and today’s performance just wasn’t that. So, credit to England – they stuck at it and did the job with the bat. But unfortunately, it’s not the way we wanted our tournament to go. There are bigger things in life, so we’ll move on,” Devine said.

Twelve months ago, Devine’s side won the T20 World Cup in the UAE, beating South Africa in the final. She drew on the confidence that triumph gave the outfit.

ALSO READ | ENG-W beats NZ-W by eight wickets in Devine’s farewell

“Oh, look, I think it’s just about confidence and belief. We probably spoke about it after the World Cup win last year – that we are good enough to be here, and when we play our best cricket, we can beat any team in the world. We just have to keep believing. I’m really excited about the talent that’s starting to come through now, the youthful energy and playfulness within the group. I mean, they’re starting to bully me already, which is a bit of a concern, but they’ve got such a high ceiling to grow, and for me, it’s about self-belief and knowing that their best is good enough.”

Devine had announced her decision to call time on her ODI career ahead of the tournament. A tearing up Devine was a regular sight during national anthems throughout New Zealand’s fixtures in the showpiece.

“Yeah, I actually probably didn’t cry as much as I thought I was going to. There were a few tears in the anthem, but the great thing about announcing it early was that I was able to process a lot of those emotions and, speaking with my support network back home, it was just about enjoying today – going back to the roots of why I played the game 19 years ago: to play alongside my mates. Yeah, the result didn’t go our way, but for me, honestly, it was never about the result. It was about finishing here with my mates. It was nice to finish with Suzie Bates bowling down the other end – I had to rig that a little bit – but sharing that with her was really special. We’ll spend a bit of time in the changing room tonight, reflect, have a few laughs and drinks, but I’m just so humbled and fortunate to have done this as a career for 19 years.”

She was given a guard of honour by England and New Zealand players after the English wrapped up an eight-wicket win.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images

Devine, Bates and Lea Tahuhu, the team’s senior trio, love calling themselves the ‘Grandmas’ of the team. While Devine has retired, Bates and Tahuhu have not made any such decisions on their careers public.

ALSO READ | Kiran Navgire’s 96 helps Maharashtra thrash Mumbai

“No, they’ve absolutely shut up shop, so I don’t know. They just left me out to dry a little bit. But both of them could keep going for many, many years. I don’t doubt that. It’s completely their decision, and when they make it, it’s up to them. Those two players in particular have played such an important role in my career, and I feel so lucky to call them some of my best mates. Whenever they do call time, I’ll be right there on the sideline cheering them on.”

Speaking about the evolution of the game over the years, Devine said the game has grown exponentionally in the 19 years she has been a part of the ecosystem so far.

“It’s so incredible to think of the growth of the women’s game. Playing along, all these years, a very long time ago, and to see where the game’s got to now in terms of the investment, the resources, the opportunities, it’s almost unrecognisable from when we started. So to see where the game can continue to go… I’m so excited about that and I’m going to be the biggest supporter of the women’s game because I still think there’s (still) so far this game can go and I think it can be a real leader in the women’s sports space around the world, so it’s a hugely exciting time.

She made her ODI debut on October 22, 2006 against Australia and since then, has scored 4279 runs in the format. In ODIs, she has scored nine centuries — her ninth ton came during the ongoing World Cup — and her highest individual score remains her 131-ball 145 against South Africa during the 2013 World Cup, also in India.
| Photo Credit:
K.R. Deepak

“Lessons learned, I think sport teaches you a lot. I think even today for me, for example, absolutely, we’re professional athletes and we’re judged by our results, but it’s so much bigger than that. For me to get to play alongside my best mates in a country where it’s just such an awesome opportunity and it’s more valuable and more rewarding than some other things, so for me it’s just taught me so much perspective and it’s probably taken a little bit of time as well.

“Probably what I’d say to the younger kids is if you’re riding the highs and lows of cricket, it’s going to be a bumpy old ride, so enjoy it while it lasts but also realise that cricket is just a game and keep going back to why you play. It’s so important. What’s your why and why do you keep tuning up. I’ve probably talked too much as usual, but yeah, just again, thank you to everyone that’s come out today, but also everyone, not just my teammates and support staff, but media, opposition. I feel so blessed to have played this incredible game for so many years, but, I’m not fully done just yet. so I’m still going to be annoying people around the grounds I’m sure.”

Published on Oct 26, 2025