India has secured the 2025 U19 Women’s T20 World Cup title by defeating South Africa by nine wickets in the final held at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sunday.
India were dominant throughout the tournament and didn’t lose a single game. India has won all their group-stage matches against West Indies, Malaysia and Sri Lanka before getting Bangladesh and Scotland in the Super Six. In the semifinal they defeated England to make it six wins on the bounce.
Indian batter Gongadi Trisha emerged as the top performer for India with three wickets and also top scorer with 44 runs in 33 balls, leading India to the ultimate junior triumph. Trisha has been the announced as Player of the match and tournament for her 309 runs and seven wickets
Earlier on Tuesday, she created a record by becoming the first U-19 player in the Women’s T20 World Cup to score a ton, solidifying her place as a rising star. She once again anchored India’s chase with an unbeaten knock that was studded with eight fours.
She dedicated her success to her father, as a tribute to the support behind her journey.
“Means everything to me, right now not able to say anything. Thank everyone for supporting me. Plan was to always focus on my strengths, did the same thing today as well…Would like to dedicate this to my dad who is here. Always consider myself as an allrounder. Goal is to play for the country and win more matches”, she said.
On the back of the efforts of Aayushi Shukla, G Trisha, Vaishnavi Sharma and Parunika Sisodia – who took nine wickets between them – India restricted South Africa to 82.
Left-arm spinner Aayushi Shukla was the star of the show with figures of 4-2-9-2, while leg-spinner Trisha.
Vaishnavi Sharma was the leading wicket-taker of the tournament, with 17 wickets.
Meanwhile, South Africa topped Group C with wins over New Zealand, Samoa and Nigeria. In the Super Six round, South Africa defeated Ireland but had shared points with the USA after the game was abandoned due to rain. In the semifinal, they defeated Australia by five wickets to seal their spot in the final.
Shabnam Shakil’s introduction in the fourth over (2-0-7-1) was the turning point. The right-arm seamer Shabnam Shakil then removed the dangerous Jemma Botha, reducing South Africa to 20/2 by the end of the fourth over.
The pressure intensified when Aayushi bowled Diara Ramlakan, further denting South Africa’s innings.
At the halfway mark, South Africa were struggling at 33/3, unable to gain any momentum.
Mieke van Voorst, South Africa’s highest scorer in the game, broke the pressure with the team’s first boundary in 56 balls, and went on to hit a couple more. But Trisha’s double-strike in the 18th over once again pegged South Africa back, with both van Voorst and Seshnie Naidu getting out trying to go for big shots.
Brief Scores: South Africa: 82 all out in 20 overs (Mieke van Voorst 23; Gongadi Trisha 3/15). India: 84 for 1 in 11.2 overs (Gongadi Trisha 44 not out, Sanika Chalke 26 not out).
