India wins Women Under-19 T20 World Cup, beat South Africa by 9 wickets

Team India delivered an emphatic performance to win their second consecutive U19 Women's T20 World Cup title, dismantling South Africa by nine wickets in the final on Sunday. The defending champions were flawless throughout the tournament, winning every match and sealing the final with a remarkable 52 balls to spare.

The standout performer of the day was all-rounder Gongadi Trisha, who showcased her dual talent by taking 3/15 with the ball before scoring an unbeaten 44 off 33 balls in the chase. South Africa, led by Kayla Reyneke, chose to bat first, a decision that backfired spectacularly as India's potent spin attack bowled them out for just 82 runs.

Left-arm spinner Aayushi Shukla starred with exceptional figures of 4-2-9-2, while leg-spinner Trisha continued her impressive tournament run by adding three key wickets. Parunika also contributed with 2/6, dismantling South Africa's top order early and ensuring they never gained momentum.

India's chase was equally dominant. Trisha's aggressive batting, featuring eight boundaries, kept the scoreboard ticking, while vice-captain Sanika Chalke provided solid support with 26 not out off 22 balls. Chalke sealed the victory with a boundary to square-leg, sparking jubilant celebrations among the Indian players.

Trisha finished the tournament as the highest run-scorer, amassing 309 runs from seven innings, including the only century of the edition—a scintillating 110 against Scotland. She also took seven wickets, proving her all-round prowess. Vaishnavi led the bowling charts with 17 wickets, while Aayushi Shukla added 14 crucial scalps to India’s tally.