The Indian U19 Women's T20 team received a hero’s welcome upon their return to India on Tuesday, after clinching the U19 Women's T20 World Cup title in Malaysia. The young cricketers, led by Niki Prasad, arrived at the Bengaluru airport to a jubilant reception from their families, friends, and well-wishers, who gathered to celebrate their historic achievement. The emotional homecoming saw players embracing their loved ones and relishing the admiration showered upon them.
The victory was sealed on Sunday, February 2, when India triumphed over South Africa, led by Kayla Reneke, in the final at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur. With this win, India successfully defended their U19 Women's T20 World Cup crown, following in the footsteps of Shafali Verma’s squad, which lifted the trophy for the first time in 2023 after beating England in the final on South African soil. The team remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, displaying an all-round dominance that made them the undisputed champions.
India’s journey to the title was powered by stellar performances from Gongadi Trisha and the team’s formidable spin trio—Parunika Sisodia, Vaishnavi Sharma, and Aayushi Shukla. Trisha emerged as the tournament’s biggest star, winning both the Player of the Match award in the final and the prestigious Player of the Tournament award. The 19-year-old batter amassed 309 runs in the competition and also contributed with the ball, taking seven wickets, including two three-wicket hauls. One of those came in the grand finale, where she played a crucial role in India’s emphatic victory.
Trisha also etched her name into history by becoming the first-ever batter to score a century in the U19 Women's T20 World Cup, achieving the milestone in a group-stage match against Scotland. Meanwhile, Vaishnavi Sharma emerged as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker, scalping 17 wickets, including a sensational hat-trick and a five-wicket haul against Malaysia. Her consistency and wicket-taking ability proved to be a game-changer for India throughout the tournament.
Parunika Sisodia also played a crucial role in India’s success, delivering a match-winning performance in the semi-final against England, where she picked up three wickets to guide her team to the final. Aayushi Shukla, who was the leading wicket-taker in the inaugural U19 Asia Cup last December, continued her excellent form, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker of the World Cup with 14 scalps. Her contributions with the ball further cemented India’s dominance in the tournament.
The team’s impeccable performance not only highlights the depth of young talent in Indian women’s cricket but also underscores the country’s growing dominance in the sport at the junior level. The future looks incredibly bright for these young stars, who have already proven their mettle on the world stage. As celebrations continue, the spotlight remains on the rising stars of Indian cricket, who have brought immense pride to the nation with their historic triumph.
