Who is 17 year old G Kamalini, who made her debut for Team India in the 5th match in place of Smriti Mandhana?

Who is G Kamalini? In the fifth T20 match being played between India and Sri Lanka, Team India took a big and shocking decision. While giving rest to star opener Smriti Mandhana, the Indian team gave just 17 year old G Kamalini a chance to make her international debut. Getting a place in the senior team at such a young age is considered a big achievement in itself.

The name of G Kamalini may be new to the common fans, but she has already made her mark in junior cricket and Women’s Premier League. His performance from Under-19 cricket to WPL impressed the selectors and now he has got a chance to prove himself in the senior team.

Who is G Kamalini?

G Kamalini, who hails from Tamil Nadu, is a left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman and can also play the role of an all-rounder if needed. She is part of Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League, where she was bought for Rs 1.60 crore in the 2025 mini auction, while her base price was just Rs 10 lakh. Recently, in the Under-19 Asia Cup against Pakistan, he led Team India to a memorable victory by scoring unbeaten 44 runs on 29 balls.

Consistent strong performance in Under-19 cricket

G Kamalini also performed brilliantly in the Under-19 World Cup and was the third highest run-scorer in the tournament. Not only this, in the 2024 Under-19 Women’s T20 Trophy, she scored 311 runs in 8 matches and played an important role in helping Tamil Nadu win the title. He also made a record in WPL by debuting at the age of just 16 years and 213 days.

Journey from skating to cricket

Very few people know that Kamalini (G Kamalini) liked skating more than cricket in her childhood. But after seeing his brother playing cricket, his inclination towards this game increased. Kamalini’s father, who lives in Madurai, brought her to Chennai for better training, where she practiced at the Chennai Super Kings Academy and honed her skills.

Father’s sacrifice changed fate

The great sacrifice of his father Gunalan is hidden behind G Kamalini becoming a cricketer. He had a transport business and owned about 10 lorries, but he closed his business for the cricket career of his children. The entire family was shifted from Madurai to Chennai so that Kamalini could get better facilities. Today, it is the result of that struggle and hard work that at the age of 17, G Kamalini has made her debut for Team India.