Delhi Capitals' Niki Prasad delighted after shining on WPL debut
What's the story
Indian U19 Women's T20 World Cup-winning captain Niki Prasad made a stunning debut in the Women's Premier League (WPL) on Sunday.
Her performance helped the Delhi Capitals clinch a victory against the Mumbai Indians. The match is now one of the most thrilling games in the tournament's history.
Despite her meager contribution with the bat in the ICC tournament, Prasad proved her worth by exhibiting phenomenal skill and composure under pressure.
Game plan
Prasad's strategy and performance in debut match
Prasad walked in at a crucial juncture, with Delhi Capitals reeling at 76/4 and requiring 89 runs in about 11 overs.
Although it was her first WPL game, she remained unfazed.
"This is the first game for me in WPL and all I wanted to do was go out there and express myself," Prasad said after being named Player of the Match.
She played it safe, concentrating on singles but also finding the boundary on loose balls.
Partnership
Prasad's crucial partnership and match-winning performance
In her debut match, Prasad stitched a key partnership with Sarah Bryce.
Despite losing wickets at the other end and a contentious run-out review in the final overs, she kept her cool.
Her crucial 35-run knock off 33 balls showed maturity beyond her years (4 fours).
With just 10 runs required in the last over, Prasad held her nerve to help Delhi Capitals beat 2023 champions by two wickets at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara.
Acclaim
Mithali Raj praises Prasad's debut performance
Prasad's debut performance has been lauded by Mithali Raj, a pioneer of women's cricket in India.
"Seasoned campaigners and players of the highest quality would have struggled to pull off the knock that Niki played on Saturday," Raj said.
She was particularly impressed with how Prasad handled the pressure in front of a packed house at Kotambi Stadium.
This praise from such an esteemed figure underscores the significance of Prasad's contribution to her team's victory.