Women's U-19 T20 WC: Mithali identifies Trisha as future star
What's the story
Indian women's cricket stalwart Mithali Raj has expressed her admiration for the U-19 Women's T20 World Cup team. The team recently clinched their second consecutive title under Niki Prasad's leadership. They triumphed over South Africa in a one-sided final at Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur. Raj praised the young cricketers' skill level and game sense throughout the tournament.
Talent pool
Raj highlights the depth of talent in Indian cricket
Raj stressed on the depth of talent in Indian cricket, crediting it to the State Associations and National Cricket Academy (NCA). She noted their contribution in grooming young players through regular camps, exposure tours, and structured training programs. "The recent back-to-back ICC Under-19 tournament victories highlight the impact of these initiatives," Raj told Hindustan Times.
Resilience
Raj praises team's resilience and game awareness
Even though she didn't watch every match in detail, Raj was impressed by the team's resilience and game awareness. She observed that these qualities were particularly evident during their only real challenge against Sri Lanka in the group stage. "Momentum shifts are a part of every game... Handling these pressure moments is crucial for their development and growth as players," she added.
Rising star
Raj identifies Gongadi Trisha as future star
Gongadi Trisha, who was instrumental in India's successful title defense, was picked by Raj as a future star. Trisha scored a whopping 309 runs and picked seven wickets with her leg breaks in the tournament. Her all-round heroics earned the Player-of-the-Tournament award. She was also named the Player of the final. "Trisha is an ideal all-rounder; her leg-spin is unique compared to conventional leg spinners, and she has good control over her line and length," Raj said.
Leadership
Raj commends Niki Prasad's leadership skills
Raj also praised Niki Prasad's leadership skills. After missing out on the 2023 edition, Prasad led the team with poise and determination to win their second consecutive title. "I wasn't following every game closely but the glimpses I caught of her (Niki) in the field and her post-match interaction with broadcasters showed a calm demeanor," Raj said.