Sophie Devine on World Cup 2025: “Excited by New Zealand’s change of guard”
It’s still quite an emotional thing to admit, but with the young talent coming through our squad right now, I can’t help but feel excited about our World Cup 2025 campaign.
Everyone has been putting in the hard yards, and it’s been so pleasing to see. Our younger players like Eden Carson and Izzy Gaze have really stepped into their own after a couple of years with the White Ferns. I’m so excited to see what they bring to the tournament.
And the older heads — Maddy Green has been excellent and has taken her game to another level. Brooke Halliday is also such an important part of our team. Having that left-hander in the middle always makes things trickier for the opposition.
New blood, old spirit — chasing our first title since 2000
This World Cup is shaping up to be a turning point for New Zealand women’s cricket. The new generation is hungry and ready, and we’re determined to chase our first title since winning the tournament in 2000.
We know every team will pose different challenges, but of course, we’re all aware that defending champions Australia are going to be incredibly tough to beat. Playing them first up is a brilliant way to kick things off — it’ll be a good test and give us an early measure of where we stand.
India at home will also be a huge challenge. The depth in their squad and the passionate support they enjoy is unmatched. Sri Lanka, too, are strong at home and we’ve seen first-hand how well they use their conditions to their advantage. Those three teams will definitely be ones to watch.
Preparation in India and Sri Lanka crucial for White Ferns
Acclimatization is a big focus for us. We’ve been working hard on areas we believe will help us succeed in subcontinental conditions.
We were fortunate to have a training camp in India where several of our batters got time in the middle — and I think that’s going to be hugely valuable come tournament time. Our fitness work has also been front and centre, especially as we’ve been toiling away through the cold New Zealand winter to be ready for the heat and humidity.
We know if we’ve done the work physically, we can trust in our skills when we get out there.
Cricket, culture, and connecting with fans
India is always such a special place to play cricket. Everyone knows how passionate the people are about the game — the atmosphere is electric. Sri Lanka is another incredible country with so much energy and warmth. We’ve loved playing there in the past and look forward to doing it again.
One of the things I’m really looking forward to is travelling, embracing the cultures, and enjoying the full experience — on and off the field. We’ll take the time to enjoy ourselves, meet fans, and really soak in what it means to represent New Zealand at a global event.
But make no mistake — we’re going there to compete, to play great cricket, and hopefully win over a few fans along the way. The White Ferns are ready, and we’re all excited for what’s to come.
