The International Cricket Council (ICC) planned to introduce the world stage to all the rising stars at a teenage level with the launch of the inaugural edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup in January 2023 which was originally scheduled to take place in January 2021. A total of 16 teams participated in the tournament which was hosted by South Africa.
The destructive and swashbuckling youngster Shafali Verma was given the baton to lead India in the inaugural edition of the Under-19 World Cup which was played in the T20 format. She had already made her senior women’s team debut on 24th September 2019 in a T20I against South Africa in Lalabhai Contractor Stadium, in Surat before going to the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa. She was accompanied by another one of her senior team partners, wicket-keeper batter Richa Ghosh in India’s inaugural Under-19 World Cup Squad.
Shafali Verma led the junior Indian side brilliantly as the Women in Blue finished at the top of the table with 6 points from four games, including three victories, and a solitary defeat against Australia by 7 wickets in the league stages of the tournament. India defeated New Zealand by 8 wickets in the first semi-final to book their spot in the final of the inaugural edition of the tournament.
India defeated England led by skipper Grace Scrivens in the final by 7 wickets to be crowned as the inaugural champions of the tournament, at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom. It was also Indian women’s first-ever ICC title.
“Obviously, winning the tournament – the first of its kind in women’s age-group cricket – as a captain will remain one of the best moments of my cricketing career; something that I will remember forever. It is safe to say that I was pretty emotional as we were about to lift that trophy and started to celebrate a special triumph,” Shafali Verma reflected on her experience of lifting the inaugural ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup title as a skipper in 2023 in South Africa.
Titas Sadhu was awarded the Player of the Match in the final for her exceptional spell (4-0-6-2) against England. The England skipper Grace Scrivens was awarded the Player of the Tournament for scoring 293 runs in 7 innings at an impressive average of 41.85, ending as the 2nd highest run-scorer of the tournament. She also picked up 9 wickets with the ball for her side in the tournament.
India’s opening batter Shweta Sehrawat was the leading run-scorer of the tournament with 297 runs at a mind-boggling average of 99 in 7 innings with the bat for her side in the tournament. Maggie Clark from Australia was the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 12 wickets in 5 innings with the ball for her side in the tournament. Parshavi Chopra was the leading wicket-taker for India and the 2nd highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 11 wickets in 6 innings with the ball for her side in the tournament.
The upcoming edition of the tournament is going to be the 2nd edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup from 18th January 2025 (Saturday) in Malaysia. The defending champions India will be led by skipper Niki Prasad.
A total of 16 teams namely, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies, Nepal, Nigeria, Samoa, Scotland, USA, and the hosts, Malaysia. Co-host Thailand earlier withdrew their name as the hosts of the tournament. Nepal, Nigeria, Scotland, Samoa, and the USA qualified through the regional under-19 World Cup Qualification tournaments.
A total of 16 teams along with the hosts Malaysia will be divided into four groups A, B, C, and D. The top three teams will progress to the Super 6 stages of the tournament and then the top two teams from each group will be up against each other in the semi-finals.
“My best wishes are with them, the message from me for everyone who is going to be a part of this year’s tournament is very simple: enjoy this experience and make the most of it. This could just be a start for something bigger but live in the moment and enjoy the process,” said the inaugural title-winning skipper Shafali Verma in a message to all the participants of the upcoming 2nd edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia.
India led by skipper Niki Prasad is placed in Group A alongside the likes of West Indies, Sri Lanka, and the hosts Malaysia. The Women in Blue will kickstart their quest to defend their inaugural title against the West Indies led by skipper Samara Ramnath in the 8th match of the tournament on 19th January 2025 (Sunday) at Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur, from 12 PM Indian Standard Time (IST).
The final of the tournament will be played on 2nd February 2025 (Sunday) from 12 PM IST at Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur.
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