A fresh and promising talent has officially broken into the Indian women's cricket team. All-rounder Niki Prasad made her senior international debut during the opening T20 match against Zimbabwe in Raipur. For the young player from Karnataka, the moment carried immense significance as vice-captain Smriti Mandhana handed over her India cap. The milestone marks a major chapter in Niki's progression from domestic circuits to the highest level of international competition.
Smriti Mandhana presents cap amid team celebration
Just moments before the game commenced, the entire squad gathered on the field where Smriti Mandhana presented Niki Prasad with her cap, offering warm wishes for her journey ahead. Following the presentation, Deepti Sharma and Anushka Sharma embraced her while the rest of the team celebrated the young cricketer's achievement. In a significant tactical move during the match, Niki was sent out to bat at number three, giving the team management a prime opportunity to evaluate her capabilities on the grand stage.
Triumph at Under-19 World Cup and Asia Cup levels
Niki's path to the senior squad reflects years of relentless effort and consistently stellar performances. She captained India to glory in the women's Under-19 T20 World Cup in 2025. Her leadership success extended further when she guided the nation to victory in the inaugural women's Under-19 Asia Cup in 2024. Her composed leadership and all-around contributions during those high-pressure tournaments firmly established her as one of the brightest prospects in the Indian cricketing ecosystem.
Refining skills with Delhi Capitals in WPL
After proving her mettle in age-group cricket, Niki further sharpened her abilities while representing Delhi Capitals in the Women's Premier League. Spending two seasons within the franchise setup allowed her to share the dressing room with some of the biggest names in world cricket, imparting maturity to her game. Across 18 WPL matches, she has accumulated 153 runs at an average of 30.60 and a strike rate of 119.53, with a highest score of 47 runs.
Impactful performances against Australia A
Her entry into the senior setup was heavily backed by strong outings in recent domestic and India A fixtures. While playing for India A against Australia A, Niki delivered standout performances with both bat and ball. During a T20 fixture in Mullanpur where the Indian side found itself in early trouble, she unleashed a fierce counter-attack, smashing 54 runs from just 31 balls. That knock underscored her ability to shift momentum under severe pressure. She followed it up with an unbeaten 32 in the opening one-day match, steering the team to a four-wicket victory.Proving credentials as a reliable all-rounder
Niki's utility extends far beyond her batting, as she remains a vital bowling option for her side. During the unofficial Test match against Australia A, she wreaked havoc with her bowling to claim five wickets. Furthermore, she finished as the leading wicket-taker in the three-match one-day series, bagging 9 scalps while maintaining an economy rate of 6.20. Such a multi-dimensional skill set made it impossible for selectors to overlook her credentials any longer.
