New Zealand women’s cricket captain Sophie Devine has announced that she will retire from One Day Internationals after the upcoming 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka starting 30 September.
This decision comes after a long and successful ODI career, and Sophie made it clear that this move is a step towards balancing her cricket and personal life. She will continue playing T20 cricket for New Zealand.
“Time to Step Back,” Says Sophie Devine
In an official statement shared by New Zealand Cricket (NZC), Sophie said,
“I feel the right time has come for me to step back. I feel lucky to have the support of NZC. I’m excited about the progress of this young group and I’m ready to give my best for the team in the next six to nine months.”
NZC’s Head of Women’s High Performance, Liz Green, also praised Sophie for her nearly two-decade-long contribution and said the board fully supports her decision to find balance at this stage of her life.
A Journey That Started at 17
Sophie Devine began her international cricket journey in 2006, when she was just 17 years old. Over the years, she became one of the most dependable all-rounders for New Zealand. Her consistency with both bat and ball earned her immense respect from fans and cricket experts.
Sophie has played 152 ODIs, scoring 3,990 runs at an average of 31.66, with 8 centuries and 16 half-centuries. She also took 107 wickets, making her one of New Zealand’s top all-rounders.
In the T20 format, Sophie has played 146 matches, scored 3,431 runs, and taken 119 wickets. She is expected to continue leading New Zealand in the T20 format after her ODI retirement.
Special Records and Achievements
- Sophie became the full-time captain of the New Zealand women’s team in 2020.
- Under her leadership, the team showed major improvement and even won the 2024 T20 World Cup.
- She is second on the list of most ODI wickets by a New Zealand woman cricketer (107), just behind Lea Tahuhu (115 wickets).
- Sophie ranks fourth in New Zealand’s all-time women ODI run-scorers list.
- Only Suzie Bates has played more ODIs than her among Kiwi women players.
Looking Ahead to Her Final ODI Series
Sophie will continue to lead her team at the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup, which will be her final ODI tournament. Fans and teammates are expected to give her a grand farewell as she brings her ODI career to a close after nearly 20 years.
Disclaimer: The final retirement date depends on Sophie’s appearance in the 2025 Women’s World Cup and may change based on fitness or team decisions.
Source: Navbharat Times
