U19 Women's T20 World Cup: Bowlers fire India to colossal 9-wicket win vs West Indies

Defending champions India made a dream start to their campaign in the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025 after beating West Indies by nine wickets on Sunday, January 19, at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur, where they won the inaugural U19 Women’s Asia Cup last year. After winning the toss and electing to field first, Niki Prasad’s troops did not put a foot wrong.

Right-arm pacer VJ Joshitha drew first blood after getting the wickets of West Indies captain, Samara Ramnath, and Naojanni Cumberbatch in the fourth innings. The Caribbean team could not recover from the early blows and were bowled out for 44 in 13.2 overs. West Indies had a horrible day as five of their batters, Cumberbatch, Jahazara Claxton, Brianna Harricharan, Kristen Sutherland and Selena Ross, bagged ducks.

Joshitha won the Player of the Match award for her figures of 2-0-5-2. Left-arm spinner Aayushi Shukla, who was the top wicket-taker in the Asia Cup, picked up two wickets at an economy



rate of 1.50. Parunika Sisodia, who took nine wickets in the Asia Cup, finished with figures of 2.2-0-7-3. Shabnam Shakil, who was a part of the 2023 World Cup-winning U19 squad, could not make a breakthrough.

The run-chase was expected to be straightforward, and it turned out exactly that way. India lost Gongadi Trisha, their top run-scorer in the Asia Cup, after Claxton dismissed her caught and bowled for only four. But G Kamalini and Sanika Chalke made sure that India chased down the target in 4.2 overs.

Kamalini, who fetched Rs 1.60 crore from the Mumbai Indians (MI) for Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025, smashed three fours to stay not out on 16 off 13 balls. The left-handed Sanika also gained some confidence with a quick-fire 18-run knock, laced with three fours.

With the win, India went to the top of the table in Group A with two points and a net run rate of 8.646. Their next match is against hosts Malaysia on Tuesday, January 21.