CRICKET | It is a learning experience for me: Niki

Niki Prasad surveyed the gaps in the outfield for one final time in the Women’s Premier League on Tuesday. With four needed off the last ball for Delhi Capitals to come back from the brink and complete a chase of 175 against Gujarat Giants, the 20-year-old had to dispatch the shrewd and experienced Sophie Devine towards the boundary.

She had done so well till then to race to 47 and provide Capitals hope when all seemed lost, but when it came to the climax, she fell agonisingly short as her shot found Ashleigh Gardner at long-on.

It was a heartbreaking end to the contest for the middle-order batter. But moments after the conclusion, Niki was able to take it on the chin and reflect on the game in the post-match media interaction.

“Definitely disappointed that I couldn’t get that boundary. But then, obviously, it’s a learning [experience] for me. And I’m going to go back and train harder and make sure that next time when I’m put under such a situation, I’m going to cross the line,” the 2025 U-19 World Cup-winning captain said.

Niki’s effort on Tuesday vindicates Capitals’ trust in the youngster from Karnataka. Although her overall numbers aren’t eye-catching, she is clearly capable of holding her own against bowlers of the ilk of Devine and Gardner.

She hit Devine for four consecutive fours through the off-side in the 17th over, and danced down the track against Gardner and bisected long-off and long-on perfectly for a boundary in the penultimate over.

“It gives me a lot of confidence that such a big franchise is showing so much faith with retention and things like that. I was just waiting for that one chance where I finish a game for DC. Unfortunately I couldn’t do it today, but I’m going to do it going forward,” she stated.