Assessing a team that has barely played any competitive matches of late requires a healthy dose of educated guessing.
The concept of recent form may be nonexistent for New Zealand, which last played an ODI in March 2025, but the Kiwis can take confidence from the fact that they had won the 2024 T20 World Cup after an even worse build-up of 10 consecutive losses.
The White Ferns can be the dark horses of the Women’s ODI World Cup if they can leverage their perfect blend of experience and youth.
The self-proclaimed “grandmas” — skipper Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, and Lea Tahuhu — are an integral part of the team that also boasts of four World Cup rookies in Polly Inglis, Bella James, Bree Illing, and Flora Devonshire.
New Zealand’s signature strength of having a band of all-rounders is upheld by the likes of Amelia Kerr, Devine, Bates, and Devonshire. Amelia is among the best in the business, and she will have to play up to her reputation for a successful New Zealand campaign.
The spin-bowling department, too, is in safe hands, with Amelia, Eden Carson and the enterprising Devonshire in the ranks. A credible show from them will be invaluable in the sub-continent conditions.
In Georgia Plimmer, Bates, Amelia, Devine, Brooke Halliday and Maddy Green, the Kiwis have a well-stocked batting roster.
However, the challenge lies in overcoming the lack of playing time together, as the side will have played just four warm-up fixtures — two against England in the UAE before the tournament practice games against India-A and India — coming into the marquee event.
New Zealand’s heartfelt rendition of the Maori song ‘E te Iwi E’, dedicated to outgoing T20I captain Devine after the side’s World Cup triumph in Dubai, struck a universal chord. An encore on November 2nd, as Devine steps away from the ODI stage, will be a fitting farewell for the Kiwi legend.
The squad: Sophie Devine (Capt.), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Isabella Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Georgia Plimmer and Lea Tahuhu.
New Zealand’s fixtures: Oct. 1: Australia (Indore); Oct. 6: South Africa (Indore); Oct. 10: Bangladesh (Guwahati); Oct: 14: Sri Lanka (Colombo); Oct. 18: Pakistan (Colombo); Oct. 23: India (Navi Mumbai); Oct. 26: England (Visakhapatnam).
Amelia Kerr, the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year (2024), is rightfully New Zealand’s talisman. The 24-year-old, already a veteran of 77 ODIs, was instrumental in the White Ferns winning the T20 World Cup in the UAE. The leg-spinning all-rounder will have to bring her A-game if the Kiwis are to go the distance in the ODI showpiece.
Published – September 25, 2025 11:32 pm IST
