Nikki Prasad He is set to captain the Indian team in the upcoming opener Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup 2025start clashing against West Indies In Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
Malaysia is gearing up to host the 2024 T20 Women's Under-19 World Cup
Malaysia's hosting of the Women's U19 T20WC will mark its first major cricket event since ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup in 2008. The tournament will see 16 teams competing over a 16-day period, with matches taking place at various venues across the country. The competition is divided into four groups during the initial stage, with each team playing a series of exciting matches. A total of 41 matches will be played, making it very crowded and competitive. This marks a major milestone for Malaysia as it welcomes cricketing nations from across Asia, providing a platform for young talents to shine on the international stage.
Nikki Prasad leads India in the second edition of the Under-19 World Cup
Her appointment comes after a string of impressive performances, including leading the India B team to victory in the U19 tri-series in Pune. Prasad has established herself as a versatile cricketer, excelling as both a top-order batsman and an effective bowler. As defending champions, India will look to build on their success since the inaugural edition in South Africa in 2023, where Shafali Verma led the team to victory. Now, the responsibility of guiding the team forward falls on Prasad, who also led India to victory in the U-19 Women's Asia Cup held in Kuala Lumpur earlier.
1. Early beginnings and inspiration
Nikki Prasad was born on 25 October 2005 in Bengaluru, Karnataka. From an early age, she was drawn to cricket, inspired by the sport while watching her brother play. When she was just six years old, she started playing with a tennis ball in her neighborhood, and it soon developed into a passion for leather-ball cricket. Her early fascination was nurtured by her cousin, which fueled her desire to take the sport seriously.
2. Supportive family and early training
Nikki's parents soon recognized her potential and gave her unwavering support in her cricketing journey. Her mother, in particular, was always present at her matches and training sessions, often accompanying her to various clubs and academies around Bengaluru. This encouragement laid the foundation for Nikki's commitment to the sport, allowing her to pursue her passion alongside her education.
3. Join a cricket academy only
In 2018/19, Nikki joined the famous Just Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Under the guidance of experienced coaches, including Vinayak Sir, she began improving her cricketing techniques. The academy provided her with access to structured training, fitness routines and facilities to develop her skills in both batting and bowling.
4. Move to hard ball cricket
Nicky's transition from tennis ball cricket to leather ball cricket marked an important turning point in her career. Recognizing her dedication and natural talent, her coaches at Just Cricket Academy emphasized technical development and match preparation, enabling her to take on more competitive challenges.
5. Leadership qualities shine at an early age
From a young age, Nikki has demonstrated strong leadership qualities, often taking on the responsibility of leading her team during U16 and U19 matches. Her calm demeanor, tactical awareness, and ability to handle pressure made her stand out as a leader. In 2022, she led Karnataka in the quarter-finals of the Women's Under-19 T20 Cup against Bengal, strategically deploying her quality bowlers early, leading her team to an impressive victory despite scoring just 59 runs.
6. Big setback – disqualification for the Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup
In 2022, Nikki faced her first major setback when she was not selected for the inaugural U-19 Women's World Cup. This exclusion, based on concerns about her strike rate, only increased her determination to improve. She recognized the need to raise the level of her game, particularly her hitting power, and underwent extensive training to improve her batting technique and boost her batting average.
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7. Turn setbacks into motivation
Instead of getting discouraged, Nikki used this setback as a springboard to work harder. She joined Just Cricket Academy in Bengaluru and worked closely with her coach to focus on power hitting and developing strong bat speed, timing and technique. She also modified her diet and eliminated fast food to improve her fitness.
8. Amazing performance in the 2024 T20 Challenger Cup
This dedication paid off during the 2024 T20 Challenger Cup, where Nikki emerged as the top run-scorer. She collected 162 runs in four matches at a strike rate of 125.58, showing her ability to cross boundaries and play aggressive cricket effectively. Her performance helped Karnataka reach the finals and demonstrated her transition into a power batsman, an important asset in modern T20 cricket.
9. Lead India A to victory
Nikki's captaincy reached new heights during the 2024 Women's U-19 T20 Asia Cup in Malaysia, where she captained the India A team. Their strategic brilliance was on full display as India dominated the group stages, comfortably chasing down the total. In the final match vs BangladeshHer intelligent use of bowlers and tactical decisions led India to a 41-run all-out win, enhancing her skills as a captain and fielder.
10. Signed with Delhi Capitals in WPL 2025
In late 2024, Nikki's impressive performance earned her a well-deserved contract with Delhi Capitals (DC) in Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025. She is looking forward to learning from cricket legends like Meg Lanning, Marizan Kapp and Jemima Rodriguez. This signing is a major milestone in her career, opening the door to more exposure and high-level competition.
11. Fans and Mentors – Rahul Dravid, Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur
Nikki is deeply inspired by Rahul Dravidseeking to emulate its style, discipline and values. As she progressed in her cricketing journey, she also showed great admiration for it Mithali Rajwhose leadership and perseverance in women's cricket motivated Nicky to strive for greatness. Her batting style reflects a combination of Dravid's technical precision and Raj's tactical approach to the game.
Nikki worships too Harmanpreet Kaurreflecting her calm and measured leadership. Harmanpreet's composure under pressure and ability to lead with integrity greatly inspired Nikki. She admires Kaur's leadership philosophy, which focuses on keeping the team together even in tense situations. Nikki's leadership style is greatly influenced by Harmanpreet's discipline of evaluating approach, promoting unity and promoting fairness among his teammates. As a leader, Nikki strives to earn respect through her composure and fair decision-making, ensuring her team stays focused, no matter the circumstances.
Read also: 5 Indian players to watch out for in the U-19 Women's World Cup T20 2025
This article was first published in WomenCricket.comA Cricket times a company.
