The stage is set in Kuala Lumpur as India and South Africa gear up for the final of the second edition of the Women’s U19 T20 World Cup. Both teams have remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, promising an intense battle for the trophy.
India, the defending champions, won the inaugural edition in South Africa, defeating England in the final under Shafali Verma’s captaincy. Now, under the leadership of Niki Prasad, they aim to retain the title. For South Africa, this is a golden opportunity to claim their maiden championship, and with the momentum they have built, they will be eager to seize the moment.
Journey so far
India
India have been absolutely dominant in their title defence so far! They started strong in the group stage, thrashing West Indies by nine wickets, Malaysia by 10 wickets, and Sri Lanka by 60 runs. India carried the momentum into the ‘Super Six’ stage, where they cruised past Bangladesh by eight wickets and demolished Scotland with a commanding 150-run victory.
In the semi-final against England, India faced some early pressure but held their nerve to secure a massive nine-wicket win, sealing their spot in the final in an emphatic fashion.
South Africa
South Africa’s journey to the final has been solid, with a mix of dominant wins and rain-affected games. They started their campaign with a 22-run victory over New Zealand before thrashing Samoa by 10 wickets and securing a 41-run (DLS) win over Nigeria to advance to the ‘Super Six’ stage.
Rain played a role in this phase, affecting both of their matches. They managed to defeat Ireland by seven wickets, while their game against the USA was abandoned. However, their points and net run rate were enough to seal a semi-final spot.
In the semis, South Africa delivered their best performance of the tournament, knocking out tournament favourites Australia with a five-wicket win, showcasing their ability to rise to the occasion when it matters most.
Previous meetings
In the previous edition of the tournament, they met in the group stage, where India secured a seven-wicket win by successfully chasing a 167-run target at Willowmoore Park. Several players from both teams who participated in that match are part of this final as well.
For India, Shabnam (0/20), Sonam Yadav (1/47), and Gongadi Trisha (15 off 11) featured in that game. On the South African side, Simone Lourens (61 off 44), skipper Kayla Reyneke (11 off 26), wicketkeeper Karabo Meso (19* off 11), Seshnie Naidu (1/32), and Nthabiseng Nini (0/26) were part of the playing XI.
More recently, both teams clashed in a warm-up match at Bangi before this tournament. India once again emerged victorious, winning by six wickets (via DLS). South Africa batted first and posted 129/5 in 19.4 overs, with captain Reyneke leading the way with a 26-ball 47, including two fours and four sixes. For India, Shabnam, Parunika Sisodia, and Vaishnavi Sharma picked up a wicket each.
In response, India reached 109/4 in 13.3 overs before rain intervened, and they were declared winners via the DLS method. Trisha top-scored with 32 off 20 balls, while Monalisa Legodi was the standout bowler for South Africa, taking two wickets.
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Players to watch out for
India
India has been outstanding in all three departments throughout the tournament. Having played all their matches in Kuala Lumpur, they are well-acquainted with the conditions and pitch behaviour. Their familiarity with the venue is an added advantage, as they also won the Women’s U19 Asia Cup here in 2024, where their spinners and Trisha played a crucial role.
Spin is expected to play a major role in the final, with Aayushi Shukla, Parunika, and Vaishnavi leading the charge. Vaishnavi is the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, having claimed 15 wickets in five matches at an incredible economy of 2.83 (including a hattrick). Aayushi follows closely with 12 wickets in six games at an economy of 3.15. The pace duo of Shabnam and Joshitha VJ will also be key in providing early breakthroughs.
In the batting department, India’s top order has been dominant. Trisha is currently the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 265 runs in six innings, averaging 66.25 with a strike rate of 149.71 (including a century). G Kamalini, who is third on the run-scoring charts with 135 runs in six innings, has stepped up with crucial performances in her last two knocks (51, 56*).
South Africa
Skipper Reyneke has been leading from the front, making an impact with both bat and ball. She is currently the tournament’s third-highest wicket-taker with 10 wickets in five matches at an economy of 4.34. Her off-breaks will be crucial, especially on a surface that has assisted spin throughout the tournament. The pace duo of Monalisa and Nthabiseng Nini will also be key factors, having taken six wickets each so far.
With the bat, Jemma Botha could be a threat to the Indian bowlers, given her attacking approach in the semifinal against Australia (37 off 24, SR 154.16). However, she struggled in the warm-up game against India, managing only a four-ball duck. The Proteas will be hoping she can replicate her semifinal heroics when it matters most.
Concerns
India
The only concern for them may be their middle order, which has not had enough game time in the middle throughout the tournament. In a high-pressure final, whether they are setting a target or chasing, if the in-form top order fails, the reaction of the middle-order batters will be crucial.
So far, they have rarely been tested, losing just one wicket in three matches and two wickets in another. Their only real test came against Sri Lanka, where they lost nine wickets.
South Africa
They have played only the semi-final in Kuala Lumpur, whereas India have played all their matches there. This means the Proteas are less familiar with the conditions, having played the rest of their games in Kuching.
Rain-affected matches also limited their batters’ opportunities to score big runs and build confidence. However, their composed chase of 106 runs in 18.1 overs against Australia in the semi-final will give them a huge boost. Ultimately, their bowlers will be key. If they do not step up, India might take control of the game with ease.
India enter the final as favourites after their dominant performances throughout the tournament. However, South African cricket—both men’s and women’s—has seen a remarkable rise in the past few years.
The senior women’s team reached the semi-finals of the 2022 ODI World Cup and finished as runners-up in the 2023 and 2024 T20 World Cups. Meanwhile, the men’s team made the semi-finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup and the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Despite coming close, they have yet to cross the finish line. Whether these young South African girls can finally break the jinx remains to be seen.
Also Read: Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup: How Mithali Raj’s advice indirectly helped Trisha