In 2025 at Malaysia, India barely broke a sweat to defend their Women’s U19 T20 World Cup title. Here are seven breakout stars – and a bonus – from the tournament who are likely to impress in future.
Trisha Gongadi (India)
309 runs at 77.25, SR 147, 100s: 1 | 7 wickets at 6.42, ec 3.75
A World Cup winner’s medal? Trisha has been there, done that before, two years ago. This time, however, she chose to leave a mark. She smashed the first hundred in the history of the tournament. Just as significantly, she scored at a rapid rate and would have been the leading run-scorer even without that hundred. All that is without the wickets at that ridiculous average and strike rate...
Davina Perrin (England)
176 runs at 35.20, SR 135, 50s: 1
Perrin scored more than twice as many as any of her teammates. She reached double figures every time (and below 20 only once), also scoring quickly. In the semi-final against India, her 40-ball 45 kept England in the game: they slipped from 81-2 to 92-8 after that, as good as conceding the game.
G Kamalini (India)
143 runs at 35.75, SR 104, 50s: 2 | Ct: 2 St: 4
Kamalini, talked about highly in the domestic circuit, hit the headlines last month when, at the WPL auction, she became one of the best-paid 16-year-olds in global sport. She hit consecutive fifties here, including a 50-ball 56 not out against England in the semi-final. What went under the radar was her glovework, especially to spin.
Kayle Reyneke (South Africa)
50 runs at 12.50, SR 74 | 11 wickets at 6.27, ec 4.14
No non-Indian bowler had more wickets than Reyneke in the World Cup. She began with a double-strike that eventually knocked New Zealand out of the tournament; her tight bowling and 26 runs in a chase of 106 were crucial in South Africa defeating Australia in the semi-final; and she waged a lone battle in the final against an Indian side that was clearly too strong.
Vaishnavi Sharma (India)
17 wickets at 4.35, Ec 3.36, 5WIs: 1
India produced the top two wicket-takers of the World Cup, but Sharma stood out even among them – so much so that her tournament average read like a very impressive economy rate. Her 5-5 included a hat-trick, but there were also 3-23 in the semi-final as well as 2-23 in the final.
Puja Mahato (Nepal)
70 runs at 23.33, SR 52 | 9 wickets at 7.00, ec 4.34 | Ct: 5
The Nepal captain scored 70 runs in the tournament when none of her teammates made 30. She also held five catches, but it is that first spell against Australia that she will probably be remembered for. Australia were 9-0 when she struck thrice in six balls to leave them reeling at 14-3. Australia still won, but that was largely because cricket is not an individual sport (Mahato made 18 later that day, Nepal’s only double-digit score).
Caoimhe Bray (Australia)
119 runs at 29.75, SR 97 | 7 wickets at 10.71, ec 3.81 | Ct: 5
At this World Cup, Bray showed that she belongs to that pantheon of top-quality Australian all-rounders, something the senior side has had in abundance for some time now. Solid with the bat and efficient with the ball, Bray was easily the standout player from her side.
Bonus entry: Nigeria team
African sides doing well in cricket is not new, but not teams from West Africa! Not only did Nigeria stun New Zealand (who were knocked out) because of that defeat but they also beat Ireland. In the Super Sixes, they were one point behind England, who qualified for the semi-final. Their run in this tournament may inspire a generation to take up the sport.
