England’s victory against New Zealand in the Women’s World Cup 2025 group-stage match in Visakhapatnam was marked by a special moment as both teams honored Sophie Devine for her exceptional ODI career, which she announced was coming to a close before the tournament. Devine, who made her debut in 2006 against Australia, leaves behind a legacy of over 4,000 runs, including 18 fifties and nine centuries.
Prior to the World Cup, Devine captained New Zealand to their first major T20 title in the UAE, solidifying her reputation as a successful leader. Despite New Zealand’s ODI World Cup campaign not meeting expectations, Devine stood out as the team’s top run-scorer with 289 runs and also claimed the crucial wicket of England captain Heather Knight in the recent match.
In a touching gesture, the England team presented Devine with a special jersey as a token of respect. Devine expressed her gratitude to England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and head coach Charlotte Edwards for the thoughtful gesture. Reflecting on her final game, Devine acknowledged that it was not the ideal ending she had hoped for but found solace in the growth of women’s cricket and the camaraderie within the sport.
While bidding farewell to her ODI career, Devine hinted at staying connected to the game and jokingly mentioned being a familiar face at cricket grounds. A celebration was planned in the changing room to honor Devine’s remarkable contribution to women’s cricket.