Trisha shines as U-19 women lift T20 WC

Hyderabad: A match-winning show by local girl Trisha Gongadi powered India's U-19 women's team to a successive T20 World Cup triumph in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. The all-round performance also fetched the Bhadrachalam girl the player of the tournament award.
Trisha has been in super form all through the WC, scoring a record 309 runs in a single event at an impressive average of 77.25. En route, the 19-year-old also became the first to hit a century in the tournament's history – against Singapore in a Super Six match.
In the final too, Trisha first took 3/15 and then anchored the innings with a 33-ball 44 as India surpassed South Africa's modest score of 83 to crush them by nine wickets.
Trisha was also part of the U-19 WC winning team in the inaugural edition in 2023 in South Africa
After receiving the player of the tournament award, she dedicated it to her father Rami Reddy.
"It means everything," Trisha said of the award. "I have no words. I would like to dedicate this to my father because he is here. I don't think I would be here without him. I want to play for my country and win more matches. Winning this again is simply superb," she added.
Trisha's career took wing after she joined St John's Academy as a seven-year-old.
After impressive performances in the age-group tournaments and seniors category for Hyderabad, she was named in India U-19 team where she represented India B in U-19 women's cricket challenger. She was then picked in the senior women's challenger trophy in 2021-22. Her performances earned her a spot in the India U-19 World Cup squad in 2023.
In Dec last, Trisha also emerged as the player of the series in the U-19 Women's Asia Cup where India emerged champions with an unbeaten record. She topped the tournament with 159 runs from five innings and continued her form into this World Cup. And on Sunday, she capped off a stellar run with two World Cup titles in her kitty.
The team also had two other players from the Telugu states – medium pacer Shabnam Shakil from Visakhapatnam and spinner Kesari Drithi of Hyderabad.