3 Veterans playing their last Women’s T20 World Cup

Representing your country at a World Cup is one of the greatest honours in sport. To do so across multiple editions speaks volumes about a player’s skill, resilience, and hunger for success. The 10th edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will mark the final chapter for three stalwarts who have carried their nations with distinction and now look to sign off with one last hurrah.

1. Sophie Devine

Few players embody charisma and leadership quite like Sophie Devine. The New Zealand skipper broke the jinx in the last edition, guiding the White Ferns to their first-ever Women’s T20 World Cup title.

Her numbers are staggering: she is the fifth-highest run-getter (785) in Women’s T20 World Cups and has the second-most wickets (29) for New Zealand at the event. Devine has featured in all nine previous editions, amassing 3719 runs in WT20Is, placing her fifth overall.

Known for her power hitting, Devine has struck 130 sixes in WT20Is, second only in history, and is tied with Harmanpreet Kaur for the second-most sixes (19) in Women’s T20 World Cup history.

2. Suzie Bates

If Devine is the heartbeat of New Zealand cricket, Suzie Bates is its soul. A stalwart of the game, Bates has represented the White Ferns in every single edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup.

She holds the record for the most runs (1216) in tournament history and is also the leading run-scorer in WT20Is overall (4720). Beyond her batting, Bates has been a safe pair of hands in the field, with the most catches in Women’s ODIs (94) and most in WT20Is (96), a testament to her all-round contribution.

3. Lea Tahuhu

The pace spearhead Lea Tahuhu has long been New Zealand’s enforcer with the ball. She was the country’s leading wicket-taker in Women’s ODIs with 125 scalps, before being recently overtaken by Amelia Kerr.

In WT20Is, Tahuhu remains a force, ranking as the third-highest wicket-taker for New Zealand. She now stands on the cusp of a personal milestone, needing just one more wicket to reach 100 in the format, a fitting landmark to aim for in her final World Cup.

Together, Devine, Bates, and Tahuhu represent the end of an era for New Zealand women’s cricket. Their legacy is etched in records, titles, and unforgettable performances. As they take the field one last time on the world stage, fans will watch with admiration, gratitude, and the hope that these veterans bow out with the glory they deserve.