In a video shared by the Women’s Premier League (WPL) official handle on social media, Delhi Capitals’ Shafali Verma and Niki Prasad, the two ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup winning captains, came together for a quick chat.
In 2023, Verma led the India U19 squad, featuring players like Richa Ghosh, Titas Sadhu, and Mannat Kashyap among others, to a historic title triumph in the inaugural U19 Women’s T20 World Cup. India had a strong campaign, losing only to Australia, before dominating England in the final at Potchefstroom, South Africa, to lift the trophy.
Two years later, Niki Prasad-led India, featuring Shabnam Shakil, Gongadi Trisha, Sonam Yadav, and Sanika Chalka among others, to victory over South Africa in another low-scoring final at Pandamaran, Malaysia. India enjoyed an unbeaten campaign this time around, marking another successful run just days before the ongoing Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025.
Recalling the 2023 win, Prasad shared, “When we (India) won for the first time, she (Shafali Verma) was the captain and everyone felt a part of it, even if not in the team.”
Prasad, snubbed from the 2023 World Cup squad, not only earned a place in the 2025 team but also captained the side to glory. Reflecting on the journey, she shared her unwavering belief that she would return soon, with the goal of seeing the country on top, lifting the silverware.
During the WPL players’ auction in late 2024, the Capitals secured her services. Prasad shared that every day has been a learning experience, especially from the seasoned international stars in the Capitals’ squad.
“As a young player, you must have (that) in you, that whenever you’re around a senior player, you must notice the small things, which I think I have been doing,” Prasad said on picking up small things from the Delhi Capitals environment.
Varma echoed similar sentiments, talking about how the Capitals squad is filled with motivation all over. Stating, “I learn a lot (from the players here) and you never feel alone here (in the DC camp). We are all here like a family,” on the Delhi Capitals environment.
Prasad finished as the highest run-scorer in the Women’s U19 T20 Challenger Trophy, which took place in October 2024 in Raipur, ending up with 162 runs from four innings with an incredible average of 81 and SR of 125.28.
Leading Team A in the tournament, Prasad led from the front with the bat. Barring a miss in the first game, Prasad set up or guided her team home in chases perfectly with her attacking play style, even playing a perfect anchor innings in the Final to help her team set up a fighting total. Prasad also chipped in with the ball, picking up a couple of wickets in the tournament while going at a miserly 3.50 economy rate.
She received a grand welcome to the Delhi Capitals camp after leading India U19 to World Cup glory. Her debut came soon after, as she featured in Delhi Capitals’ opener, receiving her cap from Indian batter Jemimah Rodrigues and was in action straightaway, making an impact by taking the catch of senior India captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
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