New Zealand’s legendary all-rounder Sophie Devine bowed out of ODI cricket, drawing heartfelt tributes from the global cricket fraternity and her legion of fans after an illustrious 19-year career. Devine’s retirement marks the end of an era, as the White Ferns’ captain leaves behind a legacy defined by resilience, aggressive flair, and an unwavering commitment to elevating women’s cricket on the world stage.
Sophie Devine: A stalwart’s 19-year journey
Devine embarked on her international journey at just 17, making her ODI debut for New Zealand against Australia in Brisbane in 2006. Over nearly two decades, Devine evolved into one of the finest ambassadors of the game, amassing 4,279 runs from 159 ODIs at an average of 31.66, with a career-best score of 145 and nine centuries to her name. Her all-round prowess was equally formidable, reflected in 111 ODI wickets and countless match-changing contributions as a medium pacer.
Devine assumed the White Ferns’ captaincy in 2020, leading by example and steering her side to landmark achievements including their maiden ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title and a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Her presence in the dressing room and her inspirational guidance fostered a generation of fearless cricketers. Through highs and lows, Devine’s consistency, professionalism, and tenacity made her an indispensable force for New Zealand women’s cricket.
A fitting farewell with guard of honour and emotional send-off
Devine’s final ODI appearance came against England at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam, as part of New Zealand’s campaign in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. The White Ferns, enduring a challenging tournament plagued by rainouts and narrow defeats, saw their legend sign off in tough circumstances, with Devine capturing the wicket of England legend Heather Knight despite New Zealand’s loss.
The emotional magnitude of the occasion was evident the moment play ended. Devine’s teammates and opposition players formed a moving guard of honour along the boundary, symbolizing mutual respect and admiration for all she has achieved. England’s squad presented her with a team-signed jersey inscribed with tributes, highlighting the profound impact she has made on and off the field: “Congratulations Sophie on an amazing ODI career! You’ve inspired so many people around the world and should be really proud of your ODI career. Best wishes.”
Fans, former players, and cricket organizations flooded social media with messages, heralding Devine as a true icon whose career has inspired generations. Her measured post-match reflection acknowledged disappointment at the result but embraced the camaraderie and legacy of the moment: “Not to make it about myself, I wanted to go out on a high… Credit to England, they stuck at it… I’m truly grateful for the journey.”
Here’s how cricket fraternity and fans reacted:
A special guard of honour for Sophie Devine as she retires from the 50-over format after 19 years 🥹🖤#ENGvNZ | #CWC25 pic.twitter.com/zSUyaJu2oG
— ICC (@ICC) October 26, 2025
A trailblazer, a leader, a legend. Sophie Devine signs off with a legacy that will last forever. 💛🫡 pic.twitter.com/bWHGTqG1ZK
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) October 26, 2025
Devine by Name, Legendary by Game. 🫡
A glorious reign meets its sunset as Sophie Devine bids farewell to WODIs. 🥹
4️⃣2️⃣7️⃣9️⃣ runs, 1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣ wickets, and an unshakable legacy. Thank you for all the memories, Sophie. 💫#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #CWC25 pic.twitter.com/BhggPIgh5D
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) October 26, 2025
Congratulations Sophie Devine on an amazing ODI career 🤩
Nat presented her with a signed shirt post-match to congratulate her on an incredible career 🤝 pic.twitter.com/vmICtMgFG9
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 26, 2025
Your journey with the White Ferns has been a testament to hard work, resilience, and leadership. You’ve set a standard for excellence and camaraderie that will inspire generations to come.
Best wishes for what lies ahead, @sophdevine77. ❤️👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/dCNVXlwRna
— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) October 27, 2025
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒓𝒂!💔
A leader and a legend, Sophie Devine bids farewell to ODI cricket after 19 remarkable years!🤝 pic.twitter.com/XyQ9RpGXMh
— honey bee (@honey__bee006) October 27, 2025
Happy odi retirement Sophie Devine! 🩶#ElvishYadav #ElvishArmy
pic.twitter.com/bV5fBCRvSq— CricketQuickBuzz (@CricketQuickBuz) October 26, 2025
Legend of the w̶o̶m̶e̶n̶’̶s̶ ̶g̶a̶m̶e̶ sport. Thank you, Sophie Devine for being an icon of the game! 🙌🫡#GujaratGiants #BringItOn #Adani #CWC25 pic.twitter.com/Ib3FmbNvYN
— Gujarat Giants (@Giant_Cricket) October 26, 2025
happy retirement legend sophie devine ur presence was truly divine for this sport🫶 pic.twitter.com/B9pSZ4zQzP
— अजय शर्मा 🇮🇳 (@AjayShaRss) October 26, 2025
An era ends, but the memories will always stay.
Here’s to Sophie Devine and the career that redefined power and poise.This Is Why we’ll always stay inspired 🌸 pic.twitter.com/leqAX9ucvw
— Google India (@GoogleIndia) October 26, 2025
A trailblazer, a leader, a legend. Sophie Devine signs off with a legacy that will last forever. 💛🫡[RCB] pic.twitter.com/rCeMW7HrrD
— Kanak Kumari (@KanakKu64995524) October 26, 2025
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
