India’s young cricketers have set their sights on a lasting legacy of ICC dominance after securing their second consecutive Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup title in Kuala Lumpur.
A Tournament of Dominance
India entered the tournament with a clear goal: to dominate and stay on top. Led by captain Niki Prasad, the team delivered on that promise, winning every match. Their defense was unshakable, with no team managing more than 113 for 8 against them.
In the final against South Africa, India stuck to their proven strategy. After being asked to bowl first, their spinners dismantled the opposition for just 82 runs. India chased down the target in 11.2 overs, with G Trisha starring with an unbeaten 44 and figures of 3 for 15.
Creating a Winning Legacy
At the post-match presentation, Prasad emphasized India’s long-term goal.
“We are here to create a legacy of winning ICC trophies,” she declared. “I wanted to ensure that India remains at the top, and we have done just that.”
Prasad, who missed selection in the previous U-19 World Cup, was determined to make her mark this time. She credited the team’s calm approach and ability to stick to their game plan for their success.
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Trisha’s All-Round Brilliance
G Trisha, named Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament, dedicated her award to her father.
“Because of him, I started playing cricket. I wouldn’t be here without him,” she said.
Trisha, who opened the batting this time after playing in the middle order in 2023, finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer. She amassed 309 runs in seven matches, averaging 77.25 with an impressive strike rate of 147.14. No other batter crossed 200 runs.
Her hard work on power hitting, under the guidance of India’s batting coach Apoorva S Desai, paid off.
“For this tournament, our coach kept telling me, ‘You are going to open. Be ready for it.’ That clarity helped me prepare,” she said.
Besides her batting, Trisha also impressed with the ball, taking seven wickets in six games.
Spin Trio’s Crucial Role
India’s success was heavily backed by their left-arm spin trio—Vaishnavi Sharma, Aayushi Shukla, and Parunika Sisodia.
Vaishnavi topped the wicket charts with 17 scalps, while Shukla and Sisodia claimed 14 and 10 wickets, respectively.
The trio developed a strong bond on and off the field.
“In the hotel room, we never talk about bowling,” Sisodia revealed. “On the field, though, we help each other with quick insights on the batters.”
Vaishnavi, overwhelmed with emotion after the final, added: “We are not just teammates—we are family.”
Looking Ahead
The team is already thinking about future victories.
“We don’t want to look back,” Sisodia said. “This is just the beginning.”
As the celebrations continued, wicketkeeper G Kamalini summed up the team’s emotions with a simple but powerful statement in Tamil: “World Cup-pa thookittom”—We have lifted the World Cup.
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