India Crushes South Africa in ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup Final, Seals Back-to-Back Titles

South Africa's Unbeaten Run Meets India's Dominance

People tuned in worldwide when South Africa’s women under-19 cricket team made their World Cup final debut in Kuala Lumpur, 2025. The stakes couldn’t have been higher. Yet, for all the excitement around this South African squad, it was India who showed why they’re calling the shots when it comes to ICC T20 World Cup dominance. South Africa powered through the group stages and knockout matches unbeaten, but when it mattered, India’s young stars handed them a clinical, almost ruthless nine-wicket defeat.

India have been the team to beat at this level, and their lineup rarely looked fazed. The South African side fought hard, but their total in the final wasn’t enough. India's chase—guided by their calm nerves and technical precision—never looked in real doubt. The contrast was noticeable: a South African team still growing into the international spotlight, and an Indian squad acting like seasoned finalists despite their youth.

Gongadi Trisha: The Tournament’s Standout

If there's one Indian player everyone’s talking about, it’s Gongadi Trisha. Her unbeaten 110 off just 59 balls in a group-stage game against Scotland pushed India into the semifinals with swagger. That knock wasn’t just a record; it was a statement. And she carried that confidence right through to the final, scoring freely and making tough chases look almost easy.

Across the tournament, Trisha put up an astounding 309 runs, more than anyone else, and did her fair share with the ball too. Awarded Player of the Tournament, she turned heads with her versatility and steel under pressure. Every time India needed her, she delivered. Her play doesn’t just pad the stats; it lifts the whole side and create headaches for opponents.

India’s bowlers set things up early in the final, squeezing South Africa’s batters with tight lines and lots of dot balls. Defending champions don’t just rely on star batters—they strangle teams with disciplined bowling and sharp fielding. South Africa found it hard to accelerate, watching their wickets fall while the required run rate ticked higher.

For South Africa, while this loss stings, it’s a breakthrough. This was their first women under-19 cricket World Cup final—a sign the gap is closing. A few years ago, few would have called them contenders. Now, there’s a growing sense that the next generation has what it takes to pull off something bigger next time. They stayed unbeaten all tournament until this last match, and that says plenty about their talent and resilience. A big match against India just happens to be as tough as it gets.

• South Africa reached their first edition final unbeaten, a first for their cricket history.
• India defended their title in style—composed, clinical, and clearly ahead of the curve.
• Gongadi Trisha’s century and all-round play left her head and shoulders above the rest.

If you’re following the rise of South Africa in international youth cricket, this is just the start of a bigger story. The scorecard from Kuala Lumpur marks a beginning rather than an end—and given how this team fought their way to the last day unbeaten, their future in women's cricket looks brighter than ever. On the world stage, though, it’s India still holding all the aces.