Nensi Patel, Izzy Sharp among five players set for their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup appearance

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New Zealand have announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England (June–July 2026), with senior stars Sophie Devine and Lea Tahuhu confirming they will retire from international cricket after the tournament. The duo will join veteran Suzie Bates, who had earlier revealed this World Cup would be her “final mission.”

The squad, captained by Amelia Kerr, blends experience with emerging talent as New Zealand look to defend their T20 World Cup title. Ten players from the previous championship-winning squad have been retained, including Kerr, Bates, Devine, Tahuhu, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair and Georgia Plimmer.

A major highlight is the inclusion of five players set to feature in their first T20 World Cup—Nensi Patel, Izzy Sharp, Bree Illing, Flora Devonshire, and Polly Inglis. Among them, Patel has made an impressive start to her T20I career, picking up six wickets in just four matches with an excellent economy rate of 3.56. Sharp, a wicketkeeper-batter, has already gained experience with 11 T20I appearances since her debut in 2025.

Head coach Ben Sawyer emphasized the significance of the tournament, especially for newcomers stepping onto the global stage. He also acknowledged the emotional weight of seeing three of New Zealand’s most experienced players—Devine, Bates, and Tahuhu—retire together after the competition.

New Zealand enter the tournament in strong form, having won seven of their last eight T20 internationals. The team will fine-tune preparations with a three-match T20I series against England in late May before beginning their World Cup campaign.

Placed in Group 2, New Zealand will face England, Ireland, Scotland, Sri Lanka, and West Indies. They will also play warm-up matches against Bangladesh and South Africa in Loughborough ahead of their opening clash against West Indies on June 14 in Hampshire.

New Zealand Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Squad

Amelia Kerr (captain), Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze (wk), Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis (wk), Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Sharp (wk), Lea Tahuhu