India all-rounder Deepti Sharma has praised debutant Niki Prasad for her impressive performance in the first T20I against Zimbabwe, saying the youngster showed remarkable confidence despite making her international debut in a high-pressure situation.
India secured a comfortable six-wicket victory in the match in Raipur, chasing down Zimbabwe’s target of 115 with four wickets in hand and 26 balls to spare. However, the hosts faced an early setback after Zimbabwe were restricted to 114, as off-spinner Nyasha Gwanzura picked up three wickets in her first two overs to leave India struggling at 19 for 4.
Deepti and Prasad then stepped up under pressure, stitching together a crucial 82-run partnership for the fifth wicket to guide India to victory. Deepti scored 49 off 37 balls, while Prasad remained unbeaten on 39 off 35 deliveries in an impressive debut performance.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Deepti lauded the young batter’s composure and maturity.
"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.
She further praised Prasad’s ability to build a partnership when the team needed it most, adding that the performance would give the youngster significant confidence for the matches ahead.
Deepti Says India Remained Calm Despite Early Wickets
Despite losing four wickets inside the first few overs, Deepti insisted that there was no panic in the Indian dressing room. She explained that the players focused on assessing the situation and finding a way to rebuild the innings.
"To tell you the truth, the two of us were there, there was Richa Ghosh as well, batting behind us. It didn't feel like a situation where anything could happen. We took a bit of a pause at that moment, and thought about what to do next," she said.
Deepti also emphasised that facing challenging situations was an important part of a team’s development. According to her, handling pressure helps players grow stronger individually and collectively.
She added that such situations were necessary from time to time and that India successfully turned a difficult position into a match-winning opportunity.
Deepti Backs India’s Aggressive Batting Approach
India’s early collapse was largely the result of attacking shots that failed to produce the desired outcome. However, Deepti defended the team’s aggressive approach, stating that the side would continue to play positive cricket despite occasional setbacks.
"Of course, we want to play an aggressive brand of cricket, and that was in our mind. Occasionally these things happen in a match. There is no god who gives you exactly what you want. But we always learn from our innings and our matches," she said.
The experienced all-rounder expressed confidence that the team would learn from its mistakes and improve in the upcoming matches.
Deepti Disappointed at Missing Half-Century
Deepti narrowly missed out on a half-century after scoring 49, falling to a top-edged sweep shot when India needed just 14 runs for victory.
Reflecting on her dismissal, she admitted that she was disappointed at not being able to finish the match herself.
"At that moment I felt bad for not finishing the match. I had thought I should build a partnership, take us close to the target, and then finish, but I made a small mistake," Deepti said.
Nevertheless, her valuable contribution, alongside Prasad’s composed innings, ensured India overcame an early batting collapse to take a 1-0 lead in the T20I series against Zimbabwe.