Who Is Gunalan Kamalini?
Bringing the curtains down on India’s commanding T20I series against Sri Lanka, which had already tilted decisively at 4-0 in India’s favour, 17-year-old left-handed wicketkeeper-batter Gunalan Kamalini made a confident start to her international career. The teenager scored 12 runs off 12 deliveries, striking two boundaries, on her T20I debut at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on December 30, 2025.
Kamalini’s stay at the crease ended in the fifth over when she was bowled by Kavisha Dilhari, handing Sri Lanka their second wicket of the innings. While her knock was brief, it offered a glimpse of her composure and marked the emergence of a young talent who had been India’s second-highest run-getter at the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup 2025.
Her rapid rise to the senior Indian team has been fuelled by impressive performances at both domestic and international youth levels. Earlier in the year, during the second edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup held in Malaysia, Kamalini accumulated 143 runs in seven innings, scoring at a strike rate of 104.37 and averaging 35.75. With two half-centuries to her name, she finished as the tournament’s third-highest run-scorer, highlighting her ability to perform consistently under pressure.
Kamalini has also made her presence felt in the Women’s Premier League. Recognising her potential early, the Mumbai Indians handed her a WPL debut on February 18, 2025, against Gujarat Giants at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. She announced herself in style by hitting a boundary off the very first ball she faced, contributing to a thrilling five-wicket win in the third edition of the league.
Mumbai Indians have continued to show faith in the young cricketer, retaining her for ₹50 lakh ahead of the WPL mega auction held on November 27, 2025. The fourth edition of the Women’s Premier League is scheduled to take place from January 9 to February 5, 2026, with matches split between DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai and Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara.
