Niki Prasad impresses Deepti Sharma after Zimbabwe heroics

Deepti Sharma praised Niki Prasad's composure after the youngster scored an unbeaten 39 to guide India to a four-wicket win over Zimbabwe on her T20I debut in Raipur. Niki's match-winning knock helped India recover from 19 for four and take a 1-0 lead in the series.Deepti Sharma praised Niki Prasad after the 1st Zimbabwe T20I. Courtesy: BCCINew Delhi,Oct 17, 2026 16:19 ISTDeepti Sharma said Niki Prasad showed remarkable composure on her India debut against Zimbabwe, admitting that the youngster did not look like someone playing her first international match. Niki impressed with an unbeaten 39 in the first T20I in Raipur on Friday, helping India recover from 19 for four and secure a four-wicket victory.The 20-year-old forged an 82-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Deepti, who scored 49, to rescue India from a difficult position. Niki fittingly struck the winning boundary, driving Tendai Makusha through the off-side to seal the victory and give India a 1-0 lead in the series.“Niki played really well. Honestly, it didn't seem at all like she was making her debut. It felt like she had played quite a few matches in the past, for the country,” Deepti said in the post-match press conference.“This confidence from a youngster is remarkable, you're building a partnership when the team needs it, winning the match from a tough situation. I'm sure she'll take a lot of confidence from this match,” Deepti added. Niki Prasad with the winning runs on debut #TeamIndia win by 4 wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the #INDvZIM T20I series Scorecard https://t.co/ZebQdoQIRo @mflone_ https://t.co/Gfgq6Rq5No— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) October 16, 2026HOW NIKI HELD HER NERVE IN RAIPUR Niki's innings was built on patience, smart shot selection and timely aggression. Rather than panic after India's early collapse, she rotated the strike, found gaps and punished loose deliveries. Her well-timed drives and cuts kept the scoreboard moving, while her ability to find boundaries under pressure demonstrated her confidence at the crease.Her unbeaten 39 was the third-highest individual score by an Indian woman on T20I debut, behind Rumeli Dhar's unbeaten 66 against England in 2006 and Amanjot Kaur's unbeaten 41 against South Africa in 2023. With wickets falling around her, Niki remained composed and ensured India did not lose their way in the chase. When the finish line came into sight, she backed herself to complete the job, producing the decisive boundary in style.The performance offered a glimpse of what she could bring to India's middle order: composure in difficult situations, the ability to build partnerships and the temperament to finish games. For Niki, the Raipur outing was an encouraging start to her senior international career.Niki will look to continue her form when the second T20I takes place on Sunday, October 18.- Ends