Niki Prasad Earns Maiden India T20I Call-Up After Impressive India A Performances

Niki Prasad’s maiden India T20I call-up, announced on 6 October 2026, puts the spotlight on one of the country’s most promising young all-rounders. The 20-year-old is set to join new captain Smriti Mandhana’s squad for India’s historic first white-ball series against Zimbabwe: three T20Is followed by three ODIs from 16 to 28 October. Prasad’s progress, from leading India to an Under-19 world title to making an impact across formats for India A, has made her selection a compelling next step in her career.

Niki Prasad first made her mark as captain of India’s Under-19 team, guiding the side to the title at the inaugural ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup in 2025. India beat <a href="https://cricket.international/josh-inglis-set-to-rejoin-australia-squad-ahead-of-second-test-against-south-africa/” title=”Josh Inglis set to rejoin Australia squad ahead of second Test against South Africa”>South Africa by nine wickets in the final in Kuala Lumpur on 2 February, successfully defending the trophy won by Shafali Verma’s team in 2023, when India defeated England by seven wickets in South Africa. Prasad scored 16 runs at a strike rate of 100 across two innings and seven matches in the 2025 tournament, but her leadership stood out and helped earn her a Delhi Capitals contract for the third edition of the Tata WPL.

Since then, she has scored 153 runs in 18 WPL matches, across seven innings, at an average of 30.60 and a strike rate of 119.53. Her India A performances have further strengthened her case. Against England A in England, she made 63 runs at an average of 31.50 and a strike rate of 91.30 in three One-Day innings, then added 23 runs in her sole T20 appearance. India A won both series 2-1.

Prasad’s all-round credentials were especially evident in the home series against Australia A. She was India A’s third-highest run-scorer in the T20 series, making 56 runs at an average of 28 and a strike rate of 140, including an unbeaten half-century. With her off-spin, she also took two wickets at an economy rate of 9.42. Australia A won the series 3-0.

In the One-Day series, Prasad scored 108 runs at an average of 54 and a strike rate of 109.09, including a half-century. She also finished as the leading wicket-taker, claiming nine wickets at an average of 17.22 and an economy rate of 6.20, with a four-wicket haul. Australia A won the series 2-1. In the one-off Unofficial Test, Prasad’s gritty 91 helped her reach 95 runs across two innings at an average of 47.50 and a strike rate of 80.50. She took seven wickets at an average of 11 and an economy rate of 1.67, including a five-wicket haul, guiding India A to a comprehensive win.

Smriti Mandhana’s appointment as India captain across all three formats gives the Zimbabwe tour added significance: it will be her first assignment in the role. She has previously led India as stand-in captain in 18 T20Is, winning 11, and in four ODIs, winning all four. Shafali Verma is the T20I vice-captain, while Deepti Sharma holds the ODI role.

After Zimbabwe, India are scheduled to tour South Africa from 9 to 30 December for a Test, three ODIs and three T20Is. India will then host the inaugural six-team Women’s T20 Champions Trophy from 14 to 28 February 2027. For Prasad, the Zimbabwe series offers a first chance to translate her India A form and all-round promise onto the international stage.

I am Yash Tailor, and I believe work should be driven by passion. Therefore, after completing my Engineering, I chose to work in the Cricket industry, my passion. My goal is to reach a stage where I truly enjoy what I do and give my best to every task with energy and purpose.

Source: femalecricket.com