Kuala Lumpur: India retained the Under-19 Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup for the second consecutive edition by defeating South Africa by nine wickets at the Bayuemas Oval today. Despite losing the toss and being sent to field, India showcased their superior spin bowling, restricting South Africa to just 82 runs in 20 overs.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, India batted with precision in the second innings, reaching the target with ease. Sanika Chalke delivered the winning shot, securing 84 runs in 11.2 overs, thus maintaining their hold on the trophy, which they first won in South Africa two years prior.
Trisha Gongadi was the standout performer, earning the player of the final title by taking three wickets and scoring 44 runs. Her exceptional performance throughout the tournament, with 309 runs and seven wickets, also won her the player of the tournament award.
India’s team captain, Niki Prasad, expressed pride in her team’s composed performance in the final, acknowledging the competition from South Africa. “I am very proud of my team for the way they have played today. Credit to South Africa as well for their performance and it was nice to compete with them,” she stated.
Despite the loss, South African captain Kayla Reneke highlighted the positives from their maiden World Cup final appearance, suggesting a bright future for her team.
India’s victory extended their unbeaten streak in the 2025 edition to seven games, having won all their Group A matches against West Indies, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka, followed by victories over Bangladesh and Scotland in the Super Six Group 1, and a semi-final triumph over England.
Malaysian Cricket Association’s Mohammed Iqbal Ali Kassim Ali expressed gratitude to the International Cricket Council for allowing Malaysia to host the prestigious event, which he believes has opened doors for sports diplomacy. “Malaysian Cricket will continue to bid to host more high-profile events, including bilateral tournaments and future World Cups,” he mentioned.
The next edition of the tournament is scheduled to be held in Bangladesh and Nepal in 2027.