Protect Niki Prasad, BCCI: Be the support a mother provides to her child
When you look at Niki Prasad, you might struggle to understand the emotions swirling inside her. There is a remarkable calm about her, a sense of balance in her words and clarity in her actions. She acts like someone who has already figured out the answers to the questions that life keeps throwing at her. Her India debut against Zimbabwe offered a glimpse of that rare quality.
India were in disarray at 19 for four, a position that could unsettle even an experienced batsman. Still, Niki looked different than a debutante. As Deepti Sharma rightly points out, it didn’t look like the youngster was playing his first game for India. There was no visible panic, no desperate attempt to produce a miracle. She simply believed in her game.
Deepti departed for 49 but Niki stayed until the job was done, guiding India over the finish line and hitting the winning boundary. It was a more than promising debut. It was an expression of character.
Indian cricket has never been short of talent. What makes Niki special, however, is the combination of skill, hunger and poise she has displayed so early in her career. BCCI deserves credit for recognizing her potential and giving her an opportunity at the highest level without undue delay.
But identifying young talent is only the beginning. The real responsibility starts now.
BCCI must protect Niki, guide her and give her the freedom to grow. It must be a comforting presence that a mother offers her child: someone who celebrates her successes, reassures her when she stumbles, protects her from unnecessary pressure, and reminds her that one bad day does not define her worth.
Niki has shown Indian cricket what it can become. Now Indian cricket must ensure that she gets every opportunity to deliver on that promise.
TALENT, HUNGER AND TEMPERAMENT
Niki Prasad gets her first Indian cap from Smriti Mandhan. Courtesy: BCCI Women
Rewind three and a half years and the path looks a lot less straightforward. India was preparing to celebrate its triumph in the inaugural Women’s Under-19 World Cup in South Africa in 2023, but Niki was not part of that squad. For a young cricketer with ambitions to represent her country, the omission could have been a painful setback.
Instead, her story became one of perseverance, growth and faith.
Nisarg Naik, one of India’s youngest Girl Scouts, recognized her potential and backed her to make a big splash at the 2025 Women’s Under-19 World Cup. Niki eventually led India to the titleturning an earlier disappointment into a defining chapter of her career. From missing out on the World Cup first team to lifting the trophy as captain, she has shown that talent doesn’t always follow a straight path.
Her journey did not end there. The youngster has earned the opportunity to don the senior Indian jersey and share the dressing room with established stars like Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana.
“When I first saw Niki, I saw talent, hunger and temperament in her. While I wouldn’t say I predicted everything would happen so quickly, I always believed she had the potential to go a long way. What stood out is how quickly she translated that potential into performing on the biggest stages,” Nisarg told India Today.
HOW THE CAPITAL CITY OF DELHI HELPED TRANSFORM NIKI
Niki Prasad has been a part of Delhi Capitals for the last 2 seasons. Courtesy: PTI
Niki’s growth was not limited to India’s age-group triumphs. Her stint with Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League provided another important platform to help her understand where her batting could make the most impact.
The franchise explored her abilities in the middle order, particularly at No. 5 and No. 6, and gave her the responsibility of negotiating difficult situations and finishing innings. It was a significant education for the young batsman. In this position, it is rarely a luxury to settle down for long. The player must quickly assess the match, handle the pressure and make decisions that can decide the outcome.
Niki accepted the challenge.
Her performances for India A further strengthened her case for senior selection. Against Australia A, she scored a 31-ball 54 in a T20 match, 76 in an ODI and struck 91 in an unofficial Test. These were performances across formats, against quality opposition and made it increasingly difficult for the selectors to overlook her.
Nisarg believes that the role she was given at Delhi Capitals played an important role in this development.
“Niki has always been able to adapt and bat in whatever position the team needed her to. However, Delhi Capitals used her primarily at No. 5 and No. 6, which definitely helped her understand and realize her strengths in that particular role. They gave her the opportunity to accept that responsibility and she showed how effectively she can finish plays and perform under pressure in the middle order,” he said.
TEMPERAMENT OF THE HIGHEST ORDER
Niki Prasad helped India win the U19 World Cup 2025. Courtesy: PTI
Niki didn’t suddenly appear poised on her debut in India. There were flashes in the WPL, where she was already learning to manage the subtle differences between winning and losing.
On his WPL debut against Mumbai Indians in Vadodara, she won the Player of the Match award after scoring 35. Yet the match almost ended in disappointment as Delhi Capitals needed two runs from the last ball. Arundhati Reddy scraped the necessary runs and ensured that Niki’s contribution was not in vain.
Earlier in 2026, Niki again came close to a remarkable finish when he scored 47 off 24 balls against Gujarat Giants. Delhi Capitals lost by three runs with Niki falling to Sophie Devine as she tried to find the four runs needed off the last delivery.
Against Zimbabwe, Niki found an answer. When under pressure in their first international appearance, India kept their nerve, chose their moment and hit a stylistic boundary of Tendai Makusha to seal victory.
“Playing match-winning matches in both her WPL and India debuts speaks volumes for her temperament. For me, the most impressive thing about Niki is that she doesn’t seem overwhelmed by the opportunity. She believes in her game, backs herself up and remains composed when the stakes are high. Talent gives you opportunities, but the ability to handle pressure is what sets a player apart.” Niki has shown that she can do it.
Games where she couldn’t get her team over the line could have easily fueled self-doubt. For a finisher, the last ball can be an unforgiving place. However, Niki has shown that she is a quick learner, turning past disappointments into valuable lessons.
A BREATH OF FRESH AIR FOR INDIA
Niki Prasad said she adores Rahul Dravid. Courtesy: Niki Prasad Instagram
Niki’s arrival comes at an important time for Indian women’s cricket. The middle order often struggled to provide stability, especially when early wickets exposed the bottom half of the batting line-up. India need players who can rebuild the innings without sacrificing the ability to step up when the situation calls for it.
Niki offers the promise of this balance.
As Harmanpreet Kaur’s international career moves into the next phase, India must gradually prepare for the future without placing the weight of the entire transition on one young player. Richa Ghosh has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders as a finisher and the arrival of another capable middle-order batsman could give the team more flexibility.
Niki’s admiration for Rahul Dravid, whom she identified as an idol because of his temperamentoffers another perspective on her approach. Dravid built his reputation on patience, discipline and the ability to withstand pressure. Niki’s early performances suggest that she also values these qualities.
There is another dimension to her game. Niki can contribute with the ball as he took five wickets in the unofficial Test against Australia A and finished as the leading wicket-taker in the unofficial ODI series. This versatility adds another layer to its value and gives India more options to explore as it develops.
BCCI, IT’S TIME TO PROTECT YOUR OWN
Niki Prasad helped India win the inaugural Women’s Asia Cup in 2024. Courtesy: Niki Prasad Instagram
Indian cricket has seen the arrival of gifted youngsters with immense promise, only for the weight of expectations, inconsistent opportunities or trying to recover from setbacks to complicate their journeys. Niki deserves a chance to write her own story without being burdened by those that came before her.
BCCI cannot guarantee to become world top. No institution can remove the injuries, loss of form, competitiveness or uncertainties that accompany a sporting career. What he can do is create an environment in which he has the best possible chance to succeed.
Give her a clear role, but leave flexibility to let her grow. Provide experienced mentors, quality coaching and opportunities across conditions. Resist the urge to judge her by every shift. Shield her from the noise that inevitably surrounds a young player who captures the public’s imagination, and make sure her development matters more than the immediate returns she produces.
Most importantly, let her remain a young cricketer learning her craft, rather than making her a symbol who has to constantly justify the excitement around her.
A mother does not love her child only when the child is doing well. She stands by them when the world gets critical, offers direction without stifling their independence, and gives them the courage to try again after failure. This is the kind of support Niki needs from the governing body of Indian cricket.
There will be harder days, tough layoffs, and matches where she won’t be able to get the ending she wants. When these moments arise, the BCCI must remember the composure she showed on debut and offer her the same faith she showed in herself.
Niki Prasad took the first step. She showed the talent, temperament and hunger that belongs on this stage. Now, BCCI, do your part. Protect her without restricting her.
Be the support that a mother provides to her child. Let Niki fall, learn, rise and discover how far she can go. Because Indian cricket doesn’t just need to find its next great player. He must care enough to help a person grow.
– The end