Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma emerges as a new star for India’s U19 women’s cricket squad, making her debut with an incredible hat-trick.
During the ongoing Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025, the young bowler put on a thrilling display that helped India win convincingly and left her name in the record books. She finished with figures 4-1-5-5 against Malaysia in Group A match in Kuala Lumpur as India defeated Malaysia by 10 wickets, chasing a partly score of 31.
The 19-year-old, who was born in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, began playing cricket at the age of 5. In 2022–2023, she was also awarded the Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy for Best Woman Cricketer in the Junior Domestic season.
Vaishnavi became the second bowler in the tournament’s history to achieve a hat-trick, joining Madison Landsman of South Africa. With returns of 4/12 in 2023, Landsman became the first bowler to collect a hat-trick in the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup. She was overtaken by Vaishnavi as the best bowling figures in the history of the Under 19 Women’s World Cup.
Best Bowling Figures in ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup:
1) Vaishanavi Sharma (India): 5/5 (4) vs Malaysia, 2025
2) Ellie Anderson (England): 5/12 (4) vs West Indies, 2023
3) Maisie Maceira (Scotland): 5/15 (3.5) vs Nepal, 2025
4) Ni Luh Dewi (Indonesia): 5/18 (4) vs Zimbabwe, 2023
5) Grace Scrivens (England): 4/2 (4) vs Zimbabwe, 2023
The players from Malaysia were unaware of what had struck them. After being told to bowl in the eighth over, Vaishnavi, who had taken Sonam Yadav’s place in the playing XI, did not turn back. To begin her spell, she took out Nuriman Hiyada and Nur Dania Syuhada. However, she claimed a hat-trick after dismissing Siti Nazwah, Nur Isma Dania, and Nur Ain Binti Roslan.
“It’s a dream debut. This was a dream to take a hat-trick and a fifer on debut. The journey was good; it had some ups and downs, but the dream is complete. As for my idol, it’s Radha Yadav in the women’s team and Jadeja sir from the women’s team,” said Vaishnavi Sharma reflecting on her journey and mentioning her idol during the mid-innings interview.
Sharma’s performance is a reminder of the amazing talent coming from the Indian cricket ranks as the country’s young guns continue to develop.
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