Sophie Devine picks 3 toughest opponents for New Zealand in the Women’s World Cup 2025

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New Zealand captain Sophie Devine has set her sights on making a strong impact in the upcoming Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, which kicks off on September 30. After guiding the White Ferns to victory in the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, Devine and her team are determined to bring the 50-over crown back to New Zealand, a title they last won in 2000. With her announced decision to step away from the ODI format following this tournament, Devine’s final World Cup promises to be an emotional and highly anticipated affair for both her and her team.

While every team in the competition presents its own set of challenges, Devine highlighted three sides she considers particularly formidable. Writing in her ICC column on Wednesday, she noted that the defending champions Australia will be a stern test, describing their experience and consistency as major obstacles.

In addition to Australia, Devine pointed out co-hosts India and Sri Lanka as teams to watch closely. Playing on home soil provides a significant advantage, she explained, with strong crowd support and the depth of the squads making both teams formidable opponents.“Every team will possess a different challenge, but we know the defending champions Australia are going to be pretty tough to beat. Playing them first up will be a great start to the tournament. India at home are also a huge threat, in terms of the support that they have and the depth of their group, and Sri Lanka as well, we’ve seen that playing at home is a real strength for them. Those three teams are certainly going to be difficult to come up against,” wrote Sophie.

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Beyond analyzing opponents, Devine emphasized the growth and potential within the White Ferns squad. She praised the younger players, including Eden Carson and Izzy Gaze, for stepping up over the past couple of years and contributing meaningfully to the team’s preparations. Their development, she suggested, is vital as New Zealand looks to balance experience with fresh talent.

Meanwhile, senior players such as Maddy Green and Brooke Halliday continue to provide stability and match-winning ability. Devine singled out Halliday’s role as a left-handed batter, noting that such variations in the lineup add strategic depth and make it challenging for opposition bowlers. By combining youthful energy with seasoned expertise, the White Ferns hope to present a well-rounded unit capable of contesting for the title.

“Everyone’s been putting in the hard yards which has been pleasing to see. The likes of our younger ones, in Eden Carson and Izzy Gaze, they’ve really stepped into their own having been involved with the White Ferns for a couple of years now. I’m excited to see what they will bring to the tournament. The older heads like Maddy Green, she’s been excellent and really taken her game to the next level. Brooke Halliday is another really important part of our team. Having that left hander in the line up always makes it a bit difficult for the opposition. It’s evident that this tournament will show the new blood on show in New Zealand as we look to clinch the title for the first time since 2000,” she elaborated.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.