Sophie Devine, the finisher with the ball

When Sophie Devine was tossed the ball at the start of the final over against Delhi Capitals, with eight runs to defend and Gujarat Giants' fate hanging by a thread, there was remarkably not much going through her head.

She walked to her bowling mark knowing both results were possible—that she could be the hero, or the reason the campaign slipped away.

It nearly did. Earlier that night, in the 17th over, she had been hit for 23 runs. The margin for error was gone. Yet, when the stakes were highest, the Giants went back to the same bowler. Devine didn't reach for anything new. She instead "stripped it back" to basics and stayed on the stumps.

"It sounds very simple, maybe even cliched, but that's really it," Devine tells Cricbuzz. "It comes with experience and the ability to ride the emotions… you strip it back. You're having fun out there. Whether there's a mountain of pressure on you or not, it's a game. And it's moments like those that you play for."

She has done it twice over. Successfully defending six runs a fortnight ago, against the same opposition, Devine let everyone else at the ground feel the nerves.

The irony is hard to miss. Devine was the second marquee name in the mega-auction. Delhi Capitals were genuinely invested, staying in the bidding war until her value climbed to INR 2 crore—a 300% raise and over 35% of their auction purse.

In T20 cricket, Devine's reputation precedes her bat. Power, intent, and fearlessness—that's what teams usually line up for. Yet, in WPL 2026, she has underpinned Gujarat Giants' season with composure. For a team that had frustratingly found ways to lose from winning positions, this has felt surreal.

At 36, Devine is arguably bowling at her finest in T20s over the last 15 months. She was Perth Scorchers' leading wicket-taker in WBBL 2025, captained New Zealand to their maiden T20 World Cup title, and has emerged as WPL's most reliable death bowler. Ask her what's changed, and she shrugs. This version hasn't been about new skills but better decision-making under pressure.

"The bit I have always known—power and aggression has been my real key strengths. So, tapping into that but also trying to be a bit smarter with it. When I was younger, I was probably a little bit ruthless and erratic… Having played for so long, you learn to stay really consistent and calm whether you're doing really well or you've been smashed."

That challenge has mushroomed in league cricket, where surfaces change by the week. But she's learnt to measure success by context, not by economy rates alone.

"It's just sometimes trying to narrow that focus… and also being a bit more accepting that going at 8, 9, 10 an over in Navi Mumbai is actually probably OK, whereas here in Baroda it's [about] how can I keep them to 6 or 7 an over."

Over the last 18 months, clarity has come in the form of properly defined roles. Whether she's captaining or not, Devine has found consistency in when—and why—she bowls.

"The teams I've played in lately, there's been a really clearly defined role for me… Any time you have consistency with roles, you build confidence. I'm no different. Having that clarity has helped me. Ultimately, it's always about putting the team first."

What Devine rejects is the idea that rhythm can be relied upon in T20s.

"I would say rhythm's a thing in 50-over cricket, but T20s… the game can change so fast. There's days where you feel like rubbish and you bowl great, and days where you feel a million bucks and you get smashed. So, it's just trying to find that happy medium… It's down to doing as much preparation as you can."

This mindset of comfort with discomfort is probably why Devine has thrived in clutch overs. It's perhaps also why she's put her hand up for bowling across phases now, even if it "can sometimes be a blessing and a curse."

What helps Devine is how little she carries forward from one over to the next. A quick reset is non-negotiable. It's this uncomplicated approach that is reflected in skipper Ash Gardner's belief.

After being taken apart by Delhi's lower-order, Devine knew exactly what she'd done wrong.

"Reflection is really quick for me. I knew I mis-executed the first two balls—that just didn't hit the stumps. I was probably complacent and got punished… For Ash to throw me the ball shows a real sign of belief and trust. You've got to have pretty thick skin and move on quickly, which I've managed to do."

There's some pressures that never fade. Price tags, for example.

"No, I wish 20 years of experience helped in living with that pressure," Devine says. "Any player would be lying if they say they hadn't felt the pressure of price tags. Everyone knows what you're getting paid… There's not too many other jobs where everyone knows how much you're getting paid. So it brings a different element, but it's the reality."

When the conversation turns to the future, there's no particular roadmap. She scoffs at the idea of LA Olympics 2028. "Not at all! Not a bloody chance."

The slow fade from the White Ferns' setup—relinquishing the T20 captaincy and retiring from ODIs—is a succession plan that benefits newcomers.

But there's also clarity: "I certainly know the end is very close."

Which, perhaps, explains why Sophie Devine is bowling like someone who knows what she has to offer, and why she's savouring every moment she still has on the field.

And until such a time comes, "no more 23-run overs would be nice. I mean, unless I'm the one with the bat."