Tahuhu eyes T20 World Cup glory as retirement takes backseat
Veteran pacer Lea Tahuhu is focused on winning another T20 World Cup rather than the emotions surrounding her upcoming retirement from international cricket.
The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 is set to be the final swansong for three New Zealand greats. Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu are all set to bid farewell to the game after long and illustrious careers.
Despite the emotions surrounding their upcoming retirements, Tahuhu remains focused on one final goal, winning another T20 World Cup after helping New Zealand lift the title in 2024.
"A lot of the talk will probably be outside of our team about those retirements happening, but for me, we're just here to do a job," said Tahuhu.
"We're here to try and win another World Cup.
"Your last opportunity - you probably know that, that's sitting in the back of your mind - but for me, it's pretty simple, go out there and do the role that you've been asked to do."
New Zealand head into the tournament as the defending champions, something Tahuhu believes makes them an even bigger target for the rest of the teams.
Despite that added pressure, for Tahuhu and New Zealand the focus remains firmly on playing aggressive cricket and claiming more silverware.
"There might be some teams who have maybe got a bit more of a target on us, or maybe who are taking us as a bit more of a serious threat than what they did going into the last World Cup, but I don't think it's any extra pressure for us," Tahuhu said.
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"We're going out there not to defend, but to really attack and look at winning another World Cup. It's not about defending the one that we've already got."
Tahuhu was impressed by the performance of the New Zealand bowlers in the recent ODI series against England, something she believes highlights the bright future of the side’s bowling attack .
"I think we're in a really good place," Tahuhu said. "Most of our bowlers have been around the squad or the environment for a couple of years at least. The way that Bree Illing's come in as a left-arm pacer adds a bit more diversity to our group, an area that we haven't had for a wee while.
"It's been great to see the improvements in Rosemary Mair in the last couple of years. She obviously had a bit of an injury and was out for a period of time, but the way that she's come back and being able to just come straight back in and perform really well under pressure has been fantastic."
New Zealand will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against West Indies on 13 June.