WPL 2025: Who is G. Kamalini? The U19 World Cup star winning over MI skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jhulan Goswami
G. Kamalini, who played a key role in Team India winning the ICC Women's U19 World Cup 2025, has impressed not only Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Harmanpreet Kaur but also head coach Charlotte Edwards and mentor and bowling coach Jhulan Goswami.
There has undoubtedly been a rise in attention, fan following, and even criticism when it comes to women's cricket. Since the inception of the Women's Premier League (WPL)¡ªthe female counterpart of the Indian Premier League (IPL)¡ªtop franchises have been bidding for the best players from around the world. This has also led to the emergence of many raw talents who have made their mark and even earned national call-ups.
The Mumbai Indians (MI), now gearing up for the third season, have added several new talents to their squad¡ªsome of whom were part of the U19 Women's World Cup 2025-winning team. The most notable among them is G. Kamalini, who has impressed not only MI skipper Harmanpreet Kaur but also head coach Charlotte Edwards and mentor and bowling coach Jhulan Goswami.
????-??-???? #U19WorldCup ?????????! ??#AaliRe #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/mnmp9gCe9k
¡ª Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) February 2, 2025
Who is G. Kamalini?
The wicketkeeper-batter from Tamil Nadu was born on July 20, 2008. She was acquired at the 2024 player mini-auction for ?1.6 crore. The 16-year-old had a base price of ?10 lakh and sparked a bidding war between Delhi Capitals (DC) and MI before eventually being signed by the latter. Her standout performances in domestic tournaments generated significant interest from various teams, and her crucial role in the U19 World Cup further justified MI's choice.
Kamalini was the second-highest run-scorer in the U19 Women's T20 Trophy, amassing 311 runs in eight matches and playing a key role in Tamil Nadu's title victory in October. In the U19 Women's World Cup 2024, she contributed 143 runs to her team's success, with her highest individual score being an unbeaten 56. She averaged 35.75 with the bat and was equally impressive behind the stumps.
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¡ª Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) January 31, 2025
Her unbeaten knock takes ?? to the #U19WorldCup Final.#AaliRe #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/07ZZUMelsQ
The impact of WPL on Indian cricket
Speaking at the MI press conference on January 5, 2025, team members discussed the WPL's impact on young girls in India, especially at the grassroots level. Jhulan Goswami, who has witnessed the evolution of women's cricket firsthand over the past 25 years, highlighted its growing influence.
"If you go to domestic cricket, you'll see that girls now want to play an aggressive brand of cricket and impress scouts to get into the WPL. I have traveled to different parts of the country where, earlier, there was little recognition for women's cricket, but now people are eager to know when the next WPL is happening. The impact of the WPL is amazing," Jhulan stated.
From the Lion's yard to the Indian U19 team, and now to the grand WPL stage! ?
¡ª Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) December 15, 2024
Congratulations, Kamalini! ?#WhistlePodu #WPLAuctions @SuperKingsAcad pic.twitter.com/pVrka4Xy1M
Countless stories of emerging stars are yet to be written which many may witness at the highly anticipated third season of the Women's Premier League. The WPL will begin on February 14, 2025, in Vadodara, with Mumbai Indians (MI) set to face Delhi Capitals (DC) in their opening match on February 15.
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Karen Noronha is a versatile journalist with a passion for sports and K-pop. With over 7 years of experience at publications like IBTimes UK, DNA, and OTTPlay/DesiMartini, she seamlessly transitions between covering global athletic events and the dynamic world of K-pop.
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