The ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup trophy is home! Well, it’s not wrong to say that the most awaited news is here; a group of 16 teenage girls led by talented Shafali Verma created history because the Indian Women’s Cricket Team finally achieved the ICC trophy for the very first time! With a commanding seven-wicket win over England, the Indian Women’s U19 team pulled off the inaugural ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup.
The Indian U-19 women’s cricket team was successful in defeating their England counterparts by a total of seven wickets to gain a victory in the inaugural edition of the U-19 T20 World Cup 2023 held in South Africa on January 29, Sunday.
The Indian U-19 side won against the White Ferns in order to make it to the absolute, and on the other hand, England defeated their arch-enemy Australia. The final match was conducted in Potchefstroom, with the youthful Indian side outplaying the England side.
The head coach of the victorious team, Al Khadeer said that “This is the feeling we have been waiting for very long”. He further added “This is the first time we have won the cup and it has come with the Under-19 kids. It just shows the kind of depth we have and what is there for us in the future.”
Titas Sadhu, Parshavi Chopra, and Archana Devi, these three players were amazing in taking two wickets each to dismiss England for just sixty-eight in the 18th over. The middle-order batter, Ryana Macdonald Gay of England, scored with just nineteen. Moreover, seven batters in England were skittled out for single-digit runs.
Titas Sadhu, the Player of the Match said that “People have been telling us that a lot of athletes have tried it and couldn’t get it. So it is the first cup for the Indian women’s side. We are all excited. The first time BCCI took us under, it was after 2005, when Nooshin ma’am played the World Cup and they lost the final. For us to win it, for her being our coach, it was really superb.”
A lot of renowned congratulated the team including our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he conveyed his wishes through his tweet:
Congratulations to the Indian Team for a special win at the @ICC #U19T20WorldCup. They have played excellent cricket and their success will inspire several upcoming cricketers. Best wishes to the team for their future endeavours. https://t.co/BBn5M9abHp
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 29, 2023
Big congratulations to the U-19 girls cricket team for winning the World Cup. Well done on making the nation proud🇮🇳 #JaiHind @bcciwomen @bcci
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) January 29, 2023
CHAMPIONS! 🇮🇳
Congratulations #TeamIndia, this is a monumental achievement! This fantastic victory shows how dominating you have been throughout the tournament. The triumph is even more special considering this is the first-ever Women's #U19T20WorldCup. Cherish every moment! pic.twitter.com/M97kBJNcUs
— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) January 29, 2023
You’ve been a motivation for us .
You girls have bought laurels to the nation .
We are extremely proud of each and everyone whose been a part of the world contest .
🇮🇳🏆#U19T20WorldCup— Harmanpreet Kaur (@ImHarmanpreet) January 29, 2023
U-19 World Cup Champions! What a special moment! Congratulations girls on your triumph 🏆🇮🇳
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) January 29, 2023
Indian women’s cricket is on the up! First the announcement of the #WPL & now the #U19T20WorldCup win.
Congratulations to the entire women’s team on winning the inaugural U19 World Cup. 🇮🇳🏆🏏
This win will inspire a whole generation to take up sports. pic.twitter.com/TB3gtd3eoC
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 29, 2023
Fantastic display by Shafali and her team to lift the inaugural Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup! Many congratulations to the players and the support staff for a fabulous campaign. Ahead of the WPL, a huge shot in the arm for women's cricket in India. #U19T20WorldCup
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 29, 2023
What a performance by the girls at the U-19 Womens World Cup. A true testament of skills and determination. Congratulations. 👏🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/R82Y4tCfCU
— K L Rahul (@klrahul) January 29, 2023
Speaking of the Indian skipper — Shafali Verma, she was the one who was out before the chase for 15 out of 11 balls. Also, Gongadi Trisha and Soumya Tiwari, both of them scored twenty-four in order to take India home in the 14th over of the innings.
Well, in the end, it was an amazing, delightful, and the much-deserving win for the Indians!