Sophie Devine empathises with India’s ‘under pressure’ build-up before must-win IND vs NZ at Women’s World Cup 2025 – sportingnews.com

Divy Dubey
India’s campaign at the ICC Women's World Cup 2025 has reached a tense stage. After three straight defeats, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side face New Zealand in what is virtually a quarterfinal at Navi Mumbai on Thursday.
The hosts, under immense scrutiny at home, must win to keep their semi-final hopes alive. For New Zealand captain Sophie Devine, it’s a situation she knows all too well – one that brings back memories of the White Ferns’ struggles in their home World Cup in 2022.
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Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Devine admitted she could understand the mental toll that comes with playing a World Cup on home soil.
“Look, in all honesty, I can’t begin to imagine the type of pressure that the Indian team is under. When we played a home World Cup, the pressure to perform in front of our crowd was at times overwhelming. I can’t imagine what that’s like with a billion people watching and the weight of expectation on their shoulders,” Devine said.
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She added that she felt genuine empathy for the Indian players trying to balance that pressure while still performing at the highest level.
Devine said New Zealand were excited for the challenge and aware that India would enter as favourites.
“These are the moments you want to play cricket for – a knockout game against India, in India, at a World Cup. We will wear the underdog badge with pride and focus on what we do best,” she said.
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The New Zealand skipper also reflected on how the women’s game has evolved since the 2013 World Cup in India, when the stands were nearly empty. She praised the growing fan support and visibility for women’s cricket, even as it adds new layers of expectation for teams like India.
India will hope home advantage finally turns in their favour when they meet the White Ferns in a high-stakes clash that could define their World Cup fate.
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Divy Dubey is a content producer for The Sporting News’ India edition. He has a passion for cricket and is an avid fan of football. His work spans culture, media, and digital trends. With a background in research and a curiosity-driven approach, he enjoys crafting thoughtful, engaging stories that invite readers to see everyday topics in a new light.

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