India has won the Under-19 T20 World Cup for the second consecutive time with a dominant nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the final. Led by Niki Prasad, the defending champions showcased their supremacy at Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur, successfully retaining their crown after first claiming it in 2023.

The U19 Women’s T20 World Cup final was a one-sided affair, with India effortlessly chasing down the target of 83, losing just one wicket and sealing victory with 52 balls to spare. Having bowled South Africa out for 82, India needed just 11.2 overs to knock off the runs in Kuala Lumpur.

Gongadi Trisha emerged as the standout performer for India, taking 3-15 with the ball before smashing an unbeaten 44 from 33 balls in the chase. She amassed an impressive 309 runs throughout the tournament while also making an impact with the ball, claiming seven wickets with her deceptive leg breaks. Adding to her list of achievements, Trisha etched her name in history by becoming the tournament’s first-ever centurion.

South Africa won the toss and opted to bat first but were soon in trouble as they slipped to 20-3 in the powerplay and never recovered.

Runs were hard to come by as India’s spinners took hold and, with wickets falling at regular intervals, the Proteas’ progress was slow before they were eventually bowled out from the last ball of the innings. There were no such problems for India as Trisha quickly put them in control with a flurry of early boundaries.

The 19-year-old already looks like a star of the future and ends as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 309 in seven matches, some 133 runs ahead of England’s Davina Perrin in second.

Sanika Chalke sealed the win, by hitting the winning boundary two balls into the 12th over to start the celebrations for India, who also won the inaugural tournament in 2023. With this emphatic victory, India reaffirms its dominance in youth cricket.