{"id":195166,"date":"2026-07-21T05:51:41","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T11:21:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=195166"},"modified":"2026-07-21T05:51:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T11:21:41","slug":"purpose-process-and-power-how-niki-prasad-is-looking-to-prolong-her-rapid-ascent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=195166","title":{"rendered":"Purpose, process and power: How Niki Prasad is looking to prolong her rapid ascent"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Things have been happening at breakneck speed for Niki Prasad.<\/p>\n

In December 2024, she was appointed as India U-19 captain for the Asia Cup, and in the ensuing 19-and-a-bit months, she has won the Asia Cup and U-19 T20 World Cup, played in two WPL finals, returned an impressive domestic season, and become the most expensive player in her domestic state league.<\/p>\n

The latest stop on her journey was England, where she was with the India A set-up for a white-ball tour in parallel to the senior team\u2019s excursion across the English summer. The experience is one she has taken away plenty from.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be able to play in England, get adapted to those conditions, to the wicket and the bowlers, it was a really good experience overall,\u201d she told Sportstar<\/i>. \u201cThere were quite a lot of learnings, especially when I was going to bat.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey had tall bowlers, and all they were doing was hitting the deck, short of good length. So, I had to really prepare to play the pull and cut shots. Even when I was bowling, I think the batters just kept playing square a lot, so I had to quickly adapt to that and try a lot of stock balls.<\/p>\n

RELATED | Yastika Bhatia\u2019s long road back, from ACL surgery to Lord\u2019s glory<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cEven when we were fielding, we had to keep chasing the ball because it was a bigger outfield. So, it was a really good experience playing under those conditions and also being able to win,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Being in England over the summer also gave her a closer seat at both India\u2019s T20 World Cup campaign and its historic Test win at Lord\u2019s. As a young player who boasts ambitions of wearing the white India jersey in the future, Niki took particular inspiration from the senior side\u2019s ability to transition from the shortest format to the longest.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeeing how our Indian women\u2019s team transitioned from T20 to Tests in the span of 10 days and went over there and handled the situation so well: Kranti [Gaud] picked five, and Yastika [Bhatia] got a 100. Watching them achieve that landmark on that big stage was really inspiring,\u201d she said of her experience of the occasion.<\/p>\n

WPL: Round 2<\/h4>\n

Her call-up to the A side is yet another reminder of her rapidly rising stock in the game. The 20-year-old made her WPL debut for Delhi Capitals shortly after leading the U-19 side to the T20 World Cup title in January 2025, and ahead of the mega-auction before the 2026 season, DC reiterated its faith in her by retaining her for Rs. 50 lakh. She is also now a JSW-supported athlete.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt didn\u2019t feel like pressure. Of course, there were expectations because I was retained, but I was honestly really happy to be playing WPL and being part of DC,\u201d she said of her retention. \u201cI think that overall, I was able to express that on the field. Other players are also backing you up, other international and Indian cricketers, which gives you a lot of confidence at that level.\u201d<\/p>\n

Opportunities with the bat proved scarce across the season, but she provided a statement of her quality with a blistering 24-ball 47 to pull off a near-miracle chasing 174 from 100 for six against Gujarat Giants.<\/p>\n

\"Niki<\/p>\n
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Niki Prasad was retained by the Delhi Capitals for Rs. 50 lakh ahead of WPL 2026.
\n | Photo Credit:
\n WPL\n <\/p>\n

\"lightbox-info\"\/<\/figcaption><\/div>\n

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Niki Prasad was retained by the Delhi Capitals for Rs. 50 lakh ahead of WPL 2026.
\n | Photo Credit:
\n WPL\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Niki noted that the season had helped her grow as a player and a person, saying, \u201cThis WPL season has made me evolve, not just as a cricketer, but also in my personal life. I am being even more disciplined, writing down everything that I have to be doing, and really focussing on the smaller tactical aspects because at the highest level, you need to have a lot of plans and really back those plans.\u201d<\/p>\n

The paucity of batting opportunities can be attributed to DC\u2019s opulence of high-quality top-order batters, including skipper Jemimah Rodrigues, South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt, and veteran wicketkeeper-batter Lizelle Lee. Having been given clarity about her role coming into the season, Niki \u2014 who generally bats in the top-order for Karnataka, domestically \u2014 spent time preparing for her new middle-order role before the tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cBack home, when I was training, I was doing a lot of power hitting and was learning to adapt quickly to the situation. For example, if you\u2019re walking in earlier, or if you\u2019re walking in at a situation where you need to score a lot of runs, how to take the game on or immediately change gears,\u201d she explained. \u201cComing forward from last season, I think I had that transition, and I knew I had to go straight away for boundaries or keep rotating.\u201d<\/p>\n

She was able to apply the learnings from that middle-order role into the Senior Women\u2019s One-Day Trophy immediately after, where she scored 258 runs at an average of 51.60 and an impressive strike-rate of 124.03 for Karnataka.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think batting in that middle order in WPL has made my game go to another level, because you need a lot of flexibility playing in that role,\u201d she reflected. \u201cThat kind of flexibility and learning has improved my batting even more. Now in the domestic circuit for the Karnataka team, when I bat in the top-order, I know how to straight away walk in and start rotating and get those boundaries.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following the process<\/h4>\n

Her rapid ascent has brought with it a swift increase in attention and expectation. \u201cThere has been a lot of expectation and also a little more added pressure, especially coming after that World Cup and playing WPL. Then again, next season when you\u2019re retained, there\u2019s a lot of expectation and also a little bit of pressure not just from the team, but also your surroundings, other players or maybe family,\u201d she admitted.<\/p>\n

Her method for staying insulated from that pressure is by focussing on the process. \u201cI\u2019m very disciplined about certain things, and I do my routines and everything. Because of that, when I\u2019m on the field, I\u2019m able to execute better, not take all the pressure on myself, and just focus on the process,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t look at the result. I look at what I can do to achieve that result.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Niki\u2019s<\/p>\n
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Niki\u2019s rapid ascent since winning the U-19 World Cup has brought with it added pressure, but she says all she can control is the process.
\n | Photo Credit:
\n PTI\n <\/p>\n

\"lightbox-info\"\/<\/figcaption><\/div>\n

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Niki\u2019s rapid ascent since winning the U-19 World Cup has brought with it added pressure, but she says all she can control is the process.
\n | Photo Credit:
\n PTI\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

One of the things Niki has integrated into her processes is utilising data, a habit that was first developed playing domestic cricket. \u201cI think it started when I played my first year of senior cricket for Karnataka. We have the video analysis, and one coach told me to watch the videos, see what they\u2019re doing, and just write it down.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom that tournament onwards, I could see the difference because when you have certain data and when you have a little bit of knowledge about your opponents or just about yourself \u2014 you know where you\u2019re standing and you know what you have to be doing. So in the games, you are not confused,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have a plan because you know what they\u2019re doing or what you are doing, so you have certain plans for yourself and what you can do in that particular situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Being a leader<\/h4>\n

Niki first shot into prominence as India\u2019s captain at the U-19 T20 World Cup in 2025, and has experience leading Karnataka at multiple levels as well. As a leader, she places weight in staying calm. \u201cThe captain has to be cool and calm in any situation. Even if you\u2019re winning, even if you\u2019re losing, you need to stay calm. You need to make sure that your teammates are also calm inside the field or even in the dressing room. That\u2019s one thing I\u2019ve always done from junior cricket to senior cricket.\u201d<\/p>\n

She looks to her former Karnataka captain Veda Krishnamurthy as an inspiration. \u201cShe\u2019s really sharp on the field and she knows exactly what the batter is up to. So, she immediately used to keep the fielders at the right places,\u201d she remembered. \u201cLooking at her, I think I did learn a lot about standing at the right hotspot positions, and about motivating others to give their best.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Niki Prasad on the feeling of playing in a special era of Indian Cricket and sharing the stage with other World Cup winning captains \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf3\ud83d\udc4f\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/timkpgIggj<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 BCCI (@BCCI) March 18, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

She also praised her DC captain Jemimah Rodrigues for her leadership at the helm of a major franchise for the first time. \u201cIt was her first time being the captain of such a big franchise team, but watching her motivate us, motivate me, in whatever small aspect was really inspiring,\u201d she said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot to learn from her as well, like how she\u2019s always energetic, no matter what the situation is, even if it\u2019s the last ball or the first ball she still has the same energy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Degree in the back pocket<\/h4>\n

Off the cricket field, Niki has chosen a path not especially common to cricketers, opting to continue her studies by pursuing a Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) in Sports Management.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always been really good at studies, and after doing my 12th, I was a little bit confused about what to take. So, initially, I thought I should do B.Com and finish it off. After some time, I thought maybe B.Com with ACCA because I love accounts and finance,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cLater, when I did some research, I came across this course where I was able to study business and accounts, and at the same time do sports management, where they cover every aspect of sports, including psychology, physiotherapy, nutrition, wellness, sociology, tourism. So, it covered every aspect of sports and I actually found that really interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n

She did, however, confess to not being the most regular student these days. \u201cUnfortunately, I\u2019m not able to go and study. I just have to sit and write exams. Maybe in the next couple of years when I finish the degree, there\u2019ll be some learning but right now, it\u2019s so difficult to go to college,\u201d she said with a slightly rueful smile.<\/p>\n

Tactics and power-hitting: the way forward<\/h4>\n

Next pencilled into the itinerary for Niki is the inaugural edition of the Maharani Trophy, Karnataka\u2019s state T20 league, where she will be representing Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters, having been the most expensive buy at the auction. She is optimistic that the tournament can have a transformative effect for the State.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is going to have a huge impact on the Karnataka women\u2019s team because we\u2019ve been doing really well and we\u2019ve won a couple of junior trophies, and are also aiming to win the senior team trophy, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think with Maharani coming into the picture, it\u2019s going to give exposure to other young cricketers to be competing with a lot of senior cricketers. They\u2019ll also have a lot of confidence getting to play in Chinnaswamy Stadium, when they\u2019re getting to play under floodlights. When they come into the senior team it won\u2019t be new for them,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s even a good platform because there are WPL scouts watching us. Because it\u2019ll be telecasted, everyone will be watching us. So, I think performing over there and winning matches for your team at this level is going to be really good for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond that, she has been selected for a targeted camp, and has her eye on series against Australia A and England A to come. From a personal perspective, she is clear about the areas of her game she is looking to improve on.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think over the last couple of years, I\u2019ve been doing a lot of power hitting, and also being very tactical about things. That is something I\u2019ve been including in every match and especially even in WPL, I was able to perform like that. After that also, when we had our seniors and multi-days, I was able to achieve those things\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think this season, I\u2019ll be focussing on being more tactical and having those plans. It\u2019s about going out there and not just performing, but winning the game for the team because that\u2019s when your performance is going to be seen. So, to be able to win is something that I\u2019m really looking forward to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Published on Jul 21, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n