Deepti Sharma on Niki Prasad’s 39*: ‘Didn’t feel like she was making her debut’

In a tense T20I encounter between India and Zimbabwe in Raipur, India was trailing by 16 runs at 19/4 during the powerplay. It fell upon the shoulders of veteran Deepti Sharma to stabilize the innings, including Niki Prasad, Richa Ghosh, and the lower order. Prasad, who was making her T20I debut, forged a crucial 82-run partnership with Sharma in just 63 balls, helping India to a thrilling four-wicket victory.

Though Prasad's score ended with her dismissal, Sharma, who fell for a 49, commended her teammate’s performance, stating that it did not feel like Prasad was making her debut. Deepti attributed Prasad's confidence to her experience and assured that she would gain more from this match. In the face of early wickets, Sharma emphasized the importance of a brief pause to strategize, which ultimately led to the team's success.

She also praised Prasad's presence alongside Ghosh, which contributed to the lack of panic during the chase.