Off-spinning all-rounder Nensi Patel and batter Izzy Sharp have earned their maiden World Cup call-ups as part of a White Ferns squad selected to defend their title at the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup in England in June.
The 15-strong squad, led by captain Amelia Kerr, features 10 players from New Zealand's victorious 2024 campaign, including Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates who will be attending their 10th and final T20 World Cup.
Devine and Lea Tahuhu have confirmed the World Cup will be their last campaign with the White Ferns, bringing the curtain down on their T20 careers after retiring from ODI cricket during the recent season.
They will finish their careers in England alongside long-time teammate Bates who announced on Friday her retirement from international cricket at the end of the tournament.
Northern Brave's Patel has been a consistent performer on the domestic scene and was rewarded with her T20I debut against Zimbabwe in February where she claimed three wickets for eight runs in her second match.
Twenty-one-year-old Sharp is the youngest player in the squad and will make her senior World Cup debut after captaining New Zealand at the inaugural ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup in 2023.
The hard-hitting right-hander has accrued 11 T20I caps since her White Ferns debut in March 2025 and has become a key batter for the Canterbury Magicians on the domestic scene, most recently topping the team's run scoring charts in the 2025-26 Super Smash.
Captain Kerr, who snared a T20 World Cup record of 15 wickets in 2024 and was named Player of the Tournament, will be joined in the spin department by all-rounders Bates, left-armer Flora Devonshire, and Patel.
The tournament will be the first in the format for left-arm seamer Bree Illing, wicketkeeper-batter Polly Inglis and Devonshire, who all featured in New Zealand's squad at last year's one-day World Cup.
Coach Ben Sawyer said World Cups "hold an elevated level of importance" for players.
"It's going to be an extra special time for Izzy and Nensi with it being their first World Cup.
"They've comfortably taken to international cricket this summer and should both have confidence heading into this next challenge."
Sawyer also acknowledged Bates, Devine and Tahuhu in what will be their final White Ferns campaign.
White Ferns Lea Tahuhu and Suzie Bates will sign off their international careers at the same tournament. Photo: Photosport
"To have our three most senior players all finishing their careers at the same tournament is a rare and special occasion.
"All three have had distinguished careers in their own right and given so much to this team and the game in general.
"There'll be a time at the end of the tournament to further acknowledge and celebrate the trio and I know at present they're very focused on performing well in their final mission with the team."
Sawyer said the squad was in a good place following seven wins across their last eight T20Is, which included four of the team's highest-ever totals of 190 and above.
"I believe we've landed on a well-balanced squad that features a mix of experience and exciting young talent.
"We've worked really hard over the past 12 months to develop our batting depth in particular which we've seen bear fruit in our recent home series against South Africa and Zimbabwe.
"With the ball our pace bowling attack are competing hard for spots in the XI which is a great place to be from a depth perspective."
The White Ferns are in 'Group 2' at the World Cup alongside England, Ireland, Scotland, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies.
New Zealand will play two warm-up matches in Loughborough on 6 and 9 June against Bangladesh and South Africa respectively, before their first Group 2 match against the West Indies in Hampshire on 14 June.
White Ferns ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Squad
- Melie Kerr (C) Wellington Blaze
- Suzie Bates Sparks
- Sophie Devine Wellington Blaze
- Flora Devonshire Central Hinds
- Izzy Gaze Auckland Hearts
- Maddy Green Auckland Hearts
- Brooke Halliday Auckland Hearts
- Bree Illing Auckland Hearts
- Polly Inglis Sparks
- Jess Kerr Wellington Blaze
- Rosemary Mair Central Hinds
- Nensi Patel Northern Districts
- Georgia Plimmer Wellington Blaze
- Izzy Sharp Canterbury Magicians
- Lea Tahuhu Canterbury Magicians
White Ferns T20 World Cup Schedule - Group 2 (NZT)
- Match 1 v West Indies - Sunday 14 June 5.30am - Southampton
- Match 2 v Sri Lanka - Wednesday 17 June 1.30am - Southampton
- Match 3 v Ireland - Saturday 20 June 5.30am - Southampton
- Match 4 v Scotland - Tuesday 23 June 9.30pm - Bristol
- Match 5 v England - Sunday 28 June 5.30am - The Oval
-By RNZ
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