At just 17, Tamil Nadu’s wicket-keeper batter Gunalan Kamalini is riding high after earning her maiden senior India call-up for the upcoming five-match T20I home series against Sri Lanka, from December 21 to 30.
She called 2025 a “very special” year, marked by her standout performances in the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup, a Women’s Premier League (WPL) debut, followed by a retention with the Mumbai Indians for the next season, and now this dream breakthrough amid India’s historic ODI World Cup triumph.
Speaking on the sidelines of the second edition of the Tamil Nadu Sports Conclave (TASCON), Kamalini shared her joy and gratitude, blending personal sacrifices with professional milestones.
India, led by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur under head coach Amol Muzumdar, scripted history lifting their maiden ICC senior title. They defeated South Africa, captained by Laura Wolvaardt, by 52 runs in the final of the 13th ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, hosted across India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2, 2025, at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
Kamalini, who idolises that glory, reflected warmly, “I was very happy and felt it would be so good if I were there!” Her own 2025 journey mirrors such dreams. In the 2nd ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup in Malaysia, she emerged as India’s second-highest run-scorer and the tournament’s third overall, amassing 143 runs in 7 innings at a strike rate of 104.37 and an average of 35.75, including two half-centuries.
Mumbai Indians retained her for 50 lakhs ahead of the mega auction on November 27, 2025, for the 4th Women’s Premier League (WPL), set for January 9 to February 5, 2026, across DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai (first phase), and Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara (second phase).
This call-up feels like destiny to the teenager, who described it as “a reward for all the hard work” over “the last five to six years.” Behind the scenes, family resilience fueled her rise. In 2023, her father, Gunalan, who trains her, suffered a massive heart attack and open-heart surgery, but the family shielded her from the news to protect her focus.
“All the struggles my dad went through, the health issues and everything, were for this one thing for me to play for India,” she said. “When that (call) came, there were a lot of emotions, thinking about all his help and the sacrifices he has made. Even now, despite health issues, he’s working for me. So, I’m very happy to get there. It’s a proud moment, and it has happened with all the support of my dad, mom, and (elder) brother.”
As India prepares to host Chamari Athapaththu’s Sri Lanka in the T20I series, gearing up for the 10th ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales from June 12 to July 5, 2026, Kamalini eyes a lasting impact.
“I want to win a lot of matches for the senior India team and become a main player for the side,” she affirmed, having already ticked off playing in the WPL for Mumbai Indians and winning the U-19 T20 World Cup this year. Her story embodies grit, blending youth promise with the weight of legacy in women’s cricket.
(Quotes sourced from Sportstar)
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