New Zealand Captain Sophie Devine Retires from ODIs After 159 Matches, Praises India’s Role in Women’s Cricket

Sophie Devine, the outgoing New Zealand cricket captain, has announced her retirement from One-Day Internationals (ODIs) following the Women's ODI World Cup 2025. Despite a disappointing exit marked by an eight-wicket defeat to England in their final league match, Devine reflected proudly on her career and expressed gratitude for her team's journey. She highlighted the confidence and belief gained from New Zealand's T20 World Cup win the previous year and expressed optimism about the emerging young talent in the team. Devine praised India's potential to lead the future growth of women's cricket, citing the success and popularity of the Women's Premier League (WPL) and India's vast population, contrasting it with New Zealand's smaller player base. She acknowledged the strong bench strength in New Zealand, which makes her decision to step aside easier, while likening her role to that of a proud mother invested in the team's progress. Throughout her farewell, Devine balanced personal emotion with a forward-looking perspective on the sport's development and her legacy.