U-19 women retain T20 World Cup in style

India showcased their cricketing prowess and depth of talent to secure a second successive U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup title with a commanding nine-wicket victory over South Africa on Sunday. The triumph, achieved with 52 balls to spare, highlighted the country’s meticulously structured youth development system and cemented India’s status as the first team to win the tournament without losing a single game.

The star of the final was all-rounder Gongadi Trisha, who delivered a stellar performance with both bat and ball. Her impressive figures of 3/15 with her leg spin were complemented by an unbeaten 33-ball 44, steering India to a comfortable chase of South Africa’s modest target of 83 runs. The winning moment came when vice-captain Sanika Chalke’s shot crossed the square leg boundary, prompting the Indian team to rush onto the field, waving the Tricolour in celebration. The dominant manner of the win was a treat for one and all present in Kuala Lumpur to watch the World Cup final.

Trisha’s exceptional contributions throughout the tournament earned her both the Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament awards. She amassed 309 runs and took seven wickets, including three in the final, underscoring her all-round brilliance.

Hailing from the temple town of Badrachalam in Telangana, Trisha’s journey to the top is a testament to her dedication. Her father, G Rami Reddy, noticed her passion for cricket when she was just three years old. Recognising her potential, her parents — Reddy and Madhavi — relocated to Secunderabad to support her training.

A chance meeting with coaches John Manoj and Srini proved to be a turning point in Trisha’s career. “Her father showed us a video of her hitting the ball. She was striking the ball with remarkable power. We knew we had to take her under our wing,” Srini told The Tribune.