New Zealand Captain Sophie Devine to Miss Women's Premier League Season 2 for Personal Well-Being

Sophie Devine, who captains the New Zealand women's team, has decided to miss the upcoming Season 2 of the Women's Premier League, representing Royal Challengers Bangalore, in order to prioritize her personal well-being. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) issued a statement announcing that she would be taking a break from domestic cricket based on professional guidance. Consequently, she is set to miss the remaining matches of the Super Smash with her Wellington team, as well as her commitments in the 2025 Women's Premier League.

In her recent outings in the Super Smash, Devine put on a strong showing with 38 runs and eight wickets over five games, including a standout performance against Canterbury where she achieved remarkable figures of 5 for 13. Liz Green, the Head of Women's High-Performance Development at NZC, expressed her full support for Devine's decision to take a break, emphasizing that player well-being is of utmost importance. Green clarified that the focus is on ensuring Devine has adequate rest, support, and care before returning to the professional cricket scene.

Devine was instrumental in helping RCB secure the title last season and had been retained for the upcoming league. In the previous 2024 season, she played ten matches, scoring 136 runs and taking six wickets. Since the Women's T20 World Cup victory with New Zealand in October, Devine has also participated in ODIs against India and played in the Women's Big Bash League for Perth Scorchers, along with engaging in an ODI series against Australia in December.