New Zealand Skipper Sophie Devine Retires After Women's World Cup Exit Amidst Rain-Impacted Campaign

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine expressed deep emotion and pride following her team's exit from the Women's Cricket World Cup after a defeat to India, marking the end of her ODI career. Despite the disappointment, Devine highlighted the promising growth of younger players like Isabelle Gaze, Brooke Halliday, Amelia Kerr, and Eden Carson, which makes her impending retirement easier to accept. Devine praised India's strong batting performance, particularly Smriti Mandhana's century, acknowledging the gap between the teams on the day. She also reflected on the frustration caused by unpredictable weather and rain delays, which disrupted New Zealand’s campaign and hampered their chances of reaching the semifinals. Devine emphasized the challenges faced by New Zealand as a small cricketing nation compared to India’s vast player base and praised the Indian domestic system, particularly the impact of the Women's Premier League (WPL) on the sport's growth. Throughout her farewell, Devine balanced disappointment with hope for the future of women's cricket, both in New Zealand and India.