India's U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Victory : How Strategic Planning and Execution Led India to Its Second U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Title

New Delhi, Feb 8 (NationPress) In contemporary professional team sports, many believe that championship titles are secured through dedication and strategic planning. However, successfully defending a title poses an even more formidable challenge. Achieving this feat showcases the unwavering commitment of both the team and its strategists to a well-structured plan and meticulous execution.

India's victory at the 2025 U19 Women's T20 World Cup in Malaysia stands as a remarkable illustration of this principle. Through nine months of thorough preparation and seamless implementation by the coaching and administrative team at Bengaluru's BCCI Centre of Excellence, Niki Prasad's squad successfully defended their U19 World Cup title in Malaysia, a notable advancement that bodes well for the future of women's cricket in India.

The journey towards the championship on February 2 commenced in April 2024 with zonal camps conducted by the CoE (previously the National Cricket Academy), engaging 100 girls. These camps focused on specialized training across various skill sets, culminating in a zonal tournament in May.

From there, 25 girls were chosen for an elite training camp in Dharamshala from June 8 to July 8. Following this, they participated in their respective state's domestic U19 T20 tournament. Subsequently, sixty players were selected for the U19 T20 Challenger Trophy in Raipur and divided into four teams.

After the Challenger tournament, thirty players were shortlisted and organized into two teams, India A and B, competing in a tri-series against South Africa at Pune's MCA Stadium in December 2024.

A 15-member squad was then formed for the inaugural U19 Women's Asia Cup, along with four standby players and a non-traveling reserve. Before heading to Malaysia, the players participated in a short training camp in Bengaluru.

Following their Asia Cup victory, the World Cup squad enjoyed a brief hiatus before reconvening for another training camp, leading to their unbeaten campaign in Malaysia.

The core group of players had trained and played together since approximately April of the previous year, affording them ample preparation time and match experience ahead of their successful World Cup journey.

Nooshin Al Khadeer, a former Indian off-spinner who now leads the U19 team to its consecutive Women’s T20 World Cup victories, was integral to this journey beginning from the high-performance camp in Dharamshala in July 2024.

Nooshin emphasized that the recent World Cup win was a product of the collective effort of the entire support staff - including batting coach Apurva Desai, bowling coach Rajib Dutta, fielding coach Shrabani, video analyst Mala Rangaswamy, strength & conditioning coach Shalini Mantavadi, and physio Neha Karnik, along with VVS Laxman, the head of cricket at BCCI CoE and his team, who devised the extensive preparation plan.

“Throughout this process, we closely monitored each player's development and skills from the high-performance camp until the day we claimed victory in Malaysia. We had numerous strategies tailored to the skill sets required for the World Cup,” she stated.

Nooshin added, “The other support staff members like Apurva, Rajib, Shrabani, Shalini, and Neha were also actively involved in continuously evaluating every player, strategizing the best methods to optimize each cricketer's potential. We had extensive discussions on our approach and how a more aggressive batting style could benefit us in Malaysia.”

The tactical planning for the U19 World Cup in Malaysia was meticulously detailed during the high-performance camp in Dharamshala, considering potential opponents, learning from their previous World Cup triumph in 2023, and analyzing conditions in Malaysia.

Considerations also included how other teams would prepare, the anticipated conditions in Malaysia, squad composition, the balance of spinners and pacers, and how left-hand/right-hand combinations could work effectively.

The Dharamshala camp provided answers to these strategic inquiries; for instance, if two left-handed spinners were necessary, four were available. Similarly, if three pacers were needed, six were on hand, and if the squad required two wicketkeepers, four were present.

The preparation camps were as detailed as the tactical planning, covering how to approach batting first or how to play aggressively, as well as fielding philosophies. The U19 team underwent extensive training before and after the tri-series in Pune, and similar processes were followed before the Asia Cup and World Cup.

By this stage, the 20 players had clear role definitions - such as who would bat at five. Given the unpredictable weather and challenging pitches in Malaysia, various match scenarios were simulated.

In one instance, batters were instructed to chase a specific target within five overs with an aggressive mindset. In another, when batting first, their strategy in the initial ten overs to establish a defendable score was scrutinized, especially in anticipation of potential rain interruptions.

Bowlers were trained to anticipate strategies from Australian and English batters, particularly in rainy conditions. This specificity in preparation ensured players understood their roles and were equipped to face any challenges during the World Cup.

Practice sessions in Malaysia mirrored the meticulous nature of their preparation back home, with bowlers assigned to specific roles during power plays and fielders executing their routines in designated positions.

The playing eleven was strategically adjusted based on the opposition's strengths; if facing more left-arm spinners, India fielded an additional left-handed batter, and vice versa for off-spinners.

Nooshin noted that the U19 team's mental resilience was a decisive factor in their tournament success, enabling them to overcome challenges. “The differences between our 2023 and 2025 World Cup victories lay in the conditions; South Africa favored batters, whereas Malaysia presented slower pitches more conducive to bowlers,” she remarked.

“In 2023, well-known players like Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh were part of the squad. In contrast, 2025 featured a completely new team. There were matches in Malaysia affected by rain, adding to the unpredictability.”

“However, we instilled a strong mental approach in players during training, emphasizing the importance of resilience to succeed. These new players rose to the occasion and delivered exceptional performances to ultimately emerge victorious.”

From an external perspective, India's triumph in Kuala Lumpur represented a complete dominance, with no team posing a significant threat. Captain Niki Prasad, batting at number four, only got the chance to bat twice throughout the tournament.

India effectively restricted six out of seven opposing teams to scores around 80 or below, with England being the only exception, scoring 112 in the semi-finals, which India chased down in just 15 overs.

With Trisha Gongadi in outstanding form and G Kamalini also contributing, India's top order never allowed bowlers to penetrate their lineup. This performance exemplifies a masterclass in planning, preparation, and execution, culminating in India successfully defending their title in 2025.

The Indian strategists anticipated that, unlike the inaugural tournament, other teams would be better prepared for the second U19 World Cup. Nevertheless, India achieved its objective of winning the trophy again, thanks to the meticulous planning and execution by the coaching staff and the protocols established at BCCI CoE.

Nooshin predicts that the most significant impact of India's second U19 Women's World Cup victory will be felt at the U15 level, particularly with the BCCI launching a one-day tournament for this age group in 2022. “This World Cup win will inspire more girls to pursue the sport professionally, expanding the talent pool in the nation. I believe the real effect will be seen more at the U15 level than at U19,” she stated.

“These young girls are gaining considerable exposure now – in addition to playing 50-over matches, they witness the U19 team triumphing in both the Asia Cup and World Cup and see players like G Kamalini getting contracts in the WPL. They are also closely following events like the recent women's Ashes series between Australia and England.”

In addition to their aggressive style of play, the Indian team excelled in fielding, significantly outshining their competitors. With many U19 World Cup-winning players already possessing senior cricket experience, their development over the next two years will be intriguing to observe.

“With a solid foundation in place, it’s now up to the players to advance to the next level. There’s a saying: ‘har ek paudha ko apna waqt lagta hai ugne mai (every plant takes its time to bloom).”

“Consequently, some players may progress quickly, while others may take longer to develop. We must respect the growth pace of every cricketer moving forward,” Nooshin concluded.

With the third U19 Women’s T20 World Cup scheduled for 2027 in Bangladesh and Nepal, teams have ample time to prepare. However, India's success in 2025, achieved through careful planning and execution, signifies that preparations for the 2027 tournament should commence immediately. A third U19 Women’s T20 World Cup victory is well within reach, potentially marking a remarkable milestone in contemporary professional team sports.