Deepti Sharma Praises Young Batter Niki Prasads Composed Debut Performance

New Delhi, October 17 (Daily Kiran) : India’s all-rounder Deepti Sharma has lauded Niki Prasad for her impressive debut innings under pressure during the first T20 International against Zimbabwe. Prasad’s calm demeanor was evident as she played a crucial role in guiding India to victory.

On Friday, India faced a challenging start, losing four wickets for just 19 runs. However, they successfully chased down a target of 115 runs, finishing with six wickets in hand and 26 balls to spare. Deepti scored 49 runs, while Niki remained unbeaten at 39. Their partnership of 82 runs for the fifth wicket came off 63 balls, giving India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Deepti highlighted Niki’s ability to maintain her composure, especially after the team’s shaky start. In a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on X, she remarked, “What stands out about Niki is her carefree approach. Despite the pressure, it didn’t feel like she was playing her first match. Many players get nervous during their debut, but she handled it well.”

Reflecting on her own debut experience, Deepti admitted to feeling nervous in similar circumstances. However, she was impressed by how Niki tackled the challenge. “When I debuted, I was also anxious. But watching Niki, I didn’t sense any nerves. During our partnership, she kept reminding me to focus on building our partnership and finishing the match,” Deepti explained.

She emphasized that having such clarity of thought at a young age speaks volumes about a player’s maturity, which could be significant for the future of Indian cricket. “When a young player thinks this way, it indicates how well they might perform in the future,” she added.

Deepti also mentioned that their priority was to build a partnership and manage the required run rate rather than taking unnecessary risks under pressure. “I was clear in my mind. I just wanted to build a partnership. We both focused on that, especially since the situation was tricky. If we could keep scoring a few runs each over, we would reach the target. That was our mindset, and we executed it well.”