Captain Sophie Devine said that New Zealand’s decisive 58-run victory against India was the game that set the tone for them to go all the way to the trophy at the Dubai International Stadium after the team defeated South Africa by 32 runs to win the Women’s T20 World Cup.

Despite entering the competition having lost ten straight Twenty20 Internationals, New Zealand proved to be a formidable opponent, winning the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup. It’s quite difficult to focus on just one game or one time. The India game is perhaps the most recent example, however. Everything did come together, and it was maybe the most comprehensive performance we’ve seen since the World Cup in South Africa.”

As I previously said, it demonstrated the group’s faith and trust in one another. Putting it all together and realizing that we could pull it off was, in my opinion, a huge turning point for us and aided in our progress toward being here tonight with the trophy in front of us. really difficult to define since so many factors are involved.”

Everyone considers the games, but what many people overlook is the labor that is done in the background. However, I believe that performance from India definitely set the tone for the rest of us,” Sophie said after the conclusion of the tournament.

For Sophie, it was a matter of hitting the trifecta after her team, New Zealand, finished second in the tournament in 2009 and 2010. Sophie believes that her team’s victory on October 20th, which was their second World Cup following the Women’s ODI World Cup in 2000, would motivate next generations to strive for even greater success.

“It will take some time for the effect to really hit home. We’ve spoken about the 2000 World Cup’s influence before and how it took years for cricket’s popularity to soar and numbers to increase. Hopefully, we can continue this trend at home and encourage the next generation of players.

“However, one of the best things about being a Kiwi is that we all pull together. It is irrelevant what sport you participate in. It’s been very amazing to have the support that we have had from other athletes, the general public, and celebrities. It just goes to show how connected New Zealand is and makes you feel proud to be a Kiwi,” she said.

She concluded by praising the coaching staff, both past and present, for their concerted efforts to ensure that New Zealand had its moment of triumph in the shortest possible time. “The coaching staff is underappreciated. They have been exceptional, yet they’re usually the first to be severely criticized by opponents, the media, and outsiders. They also tend to be forgotten when a team wins.”

“They have supported, believed in, and stood by each and every one of us players, giving us the assurance that we can win World Cups when we play the style of cricket we want to play and give it our all.”

The likes of newly hired head coach Ben Sawyer, assistant coach Dean Brownlie, and spin consultant Paul Wiseman, along with batting coach Craig McMillan, are among them; however, I also remember Craig Howard, who played a significant role with the spinners before that. I consider the influence that former bowling coach Andre Adams had on the group.

“It’s hard to believe that this squad is sitting here with a World Cup trophy because so many individuals have entered our environment, improved it, and helped it develop. It also goes to them, along with all they have contributed to the players’ group and cricket in New Zealand.

“In my opinion, they deserve a great deal. Although we are the ones who work at the park, the hours that they put in organizing and getting players ready are very remarkable, and they deserve a lot of recognition.”