Thu Oct 23 09:00:00 UTC 2025: New Zealand Eyes “Virtual Quarterfinal” Against India in World Cup Clash

Navi Mumbai, India – The New Zealand White Ferns are bracing for a high-stakes encounter against India in the ongoing World Cup, with skipper Sophie Devine acknowledging the match as a “virtual quarterfinal” for their semi-final aspirations. The team is preparing for the game in Navi Mumbai.

The match carries echoes of the White Ferns’ successful T20 World Cup campaign last year, where a crucial group-stage victory against India proved to be a catalyst. Despite a different format and tournament structure, the upcoming clash against the host nation is again shaping up to be pivotal for New Zealand’s chances.

Devine expressed empathy for the immense pressure on the Indian team as hosts, recalling her own experience leading New Zealand during the 2022 home World Cup. “I can’t begin to imagine the type of pressure that the Indian team is under,” Devine said. “I’ve got real empathy for them having to try and deal with that while also going out and to perform.”

While recognizing India as clear favorites, Devine emphasized that her team is ready to embrace the underdog tag and relish the challenge of playing in front of a predominantly Indian crowd. “These are the moments you want to be playing cricket – in a pretty much knockout game, against India, in India, at a World Cup,” she stated.

Adding to the challenges, unseasonal rain is forecast for Navi Mumbai, potentially threatening another washout that could jeopardize New Zealand’s semi-final bid. Devine remains unfazed, emphasizing the team’s focus on controlling what they can and sticking to their strengths. “I expect there to be rain everywhere we go at the moment,” she said with a wry smile. “We’ll deal with it if it comes.”

Despite the DY Patil stadium primarily hosting T20 cricket, Devine believes the team’s ability to adapt to the conditions will be crucial. She remains optimistic about the atmosphere, stating, “It’s going to be a really good atmosphere here tomorrow.”

While acknowledging that India faces immense pressure from their home crowd and media, Devine is happy to let that remain focused on the host, allowing her team to approach the game with a clear head. “We’ll let the Indian public and the media and all that give the Indian team enough pressure and we’ll just keep going about our thing.”

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