We Know What We Have to Do to Get Our First Win

Experienced Isani Vaghela revealed her USA side are all working towards the same goal of getting their first ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup win.

The USA played in the inaugural tournament in 2023 but were unable to taste victory in either the group stage or the fourth-place play-offs.

All-rounder Vaghela was part of the team in South Africa two years ago and is back for more in Malaysia.

The USA’s campaign is yet to get underway after rain washed out their match with Pakistan before a ball was bowled but will take on Ireland on 19 January at 10:30am local time.

“The 2023 World Cup definitely didn’t go our way, but we had a lot of learnings from it,” she admitted.

“I think we learned more about our game and we grew as a team and learned more about each other.

“We know what strengths we had and what weaknesses we had, and we’ve worked hard on our strengths. We are here now and we are stronger, hopefully getting the results we want.

“It would mean a lot to us to get a win here. Especially as a lot of us were in the 2023 World Cup and we didn’t get that first win.

“I know the whole team wants it, every game we are playing with the same passion and energy, working towards the same goal. Getting that first win would be incredible.”

Seven of the squad that played in South Africa in 2023 have returned and those strong bonds showed as the USA won both of their warm-up matches prior to the tournament kicking off in Malaysia.

And while the lure of a first U19 World Cup win is the primary goal, several of these players will hope to come of age in the senior side ahead of the LA 2028 Olympics on home soil.

California native Vaghela said: “I’m from the Bay Area in California, they have a pretty big cricket community there.

“I think cricket is really picking up around the US, especially after the men’s World Cup, people are learning about the sport and they want to pick it up.

“I definitely think it’s growing. And with the Olympics coming around too, a lot of people are taking an interest.

“It was a big thing for the US to be part of the men’s World Cup and to put on that performance. It definitely helped cricket grow in America.

“The LA Olympics is a big thing for a lot of us to look up to. It would be a huge opportunity for us and another reason for cricket to grow in the United States.”

Vaghela made her senior debut in 2021, the same year her brother Vatsal debuted for the men’s side.

The 19-year-old played in qualifiers for the T20 and Cricket World Cups that year and most recently featured for the senior side in an ODI series against Zimbabwe.

Her international experience means that while she does not feel a pressure to lead from the front, Vaghela is more than willing to guide the younger players through their first World Cup experience.

“This group is a good mix of players who have represented the senior team and players who are new to the senior team,” she said.

“It’s not responsibility necessarily but we can guide the younger players and there is experience from the senior level that we bring to the team and share with our teammates which I think gives us the upper hand.

“We have a lot of senior experience and we also have an incredible bond with each other.

“We know each other inside out so personally I think that teams with a really good bond on the field, that are really loud, that gel well, I think that shows in how they perform and how they do on the field.

“We had a lot of energy and passion for the first game. We’re going to take that into the next game, play with passion and have the same energy and stick to our plans.

“We’ll have a look at the new opponent but it’s always the same, doing the small things right.”