Niki Prasad and Sneh Rana are redefining power-hitting in women's cricket, showcasing their impressive new skills on the field.
The match on Tuesday served as a vivid demonstration of the growing strength and talent in Indian women's domestic cricket, particularly highlighting the positive impact of the Women's Premier League (WPL). This raises an intriguing question: if such clarity and confidence had been present in the past, might the outcome of nail-biting matches—like the thrilling T20 World Cup final at the MCG, which drew a record crowd of 86,534 back in 2020—have been different?
Just a few years ago, a target of "60 runs off 24 balls" would have seemed nearly insurmountable. In those times, fans might have hoped for a few boundary hits to lessen the defeat rather than expecting the unwavering belief that players like Niki Prasad and Sneh Rana displayed, especially against formidable opponents like Sophie Devine and Ash Gardner, two of the best in international women's cricket. The odds were certainly stacked against them.
Until recently, Prasad was carving out her path in the Under-19 leagues. She may have led India to a junior World Cup victory, but unlike her contemporaries Richa Ghosh and Shafali Verma—who had already tasted international competition before their Under-19 triumph—Prasad didn't receive immediate recognition and struggled to replicate similar standout performances.
In fact, her experience in the WPL 2025 was challenging as she endeavored to evolve from being primarily a touch player. Assigned as a floater in the lower-middle order, she found herself amidst a batting lineup filled with stars like Shafali, Meg Lanning, Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp, and Annabel Sutherland. This role necessitated that she develop her power-hitting abilities, expand her shot repertoire, and most crucially, master the angles of her strikes.
Despite advancements in coaching and analytics, Indian domestic cricket often operates at a level that falls short of expectations. Coaches frequently set defensive fields, while batters are instructed to opt for safer options. Herein lies the transformative power of the WPL, which holds players accountable during the off-season and implements systems to evaluate their performance even when they are away from competitive play.
Niki Prasad reflected on her experience, stating, "I felt let down that I couldn't finish the game, but this serves as a learning opportunity for me. I plan to return to training with more intensity, and the next time I find myself in a similar situation, I will ensure we cross the finish line."
A significant area of improvement for Prasad has been her ability to hit powerfully. While it might be premature to declare a complete transformation, her efforts are clearly visible—not only in her variety of strokes and execution but also in her newfound confidence.
Consider the remarkable sequence where she struck four boundaries off four consecutive balls from Devine in the 17th over: a clean lofted shot over mid-off, an agile move to hit inside-out over cover, a delicate placement past short third, and creating space to slice a yorker behind point. None of these shots appeared risky or complacent—quite impressive for a player who had batted only once this season. This was not the same Niki Prasad who had been overwhelmed when the Delhi Capitals' top order crumbled in last year's final.
Sneh Rana's journey is equally compelling. At age 30, she went unsold in the previous auction and spent her time at home contemplating how to elevate her T20 skills. To tackle this challenge, she engaged a trainer and sought out a facility where she could practice hitting balls tirelessly. In addition to smashing hundreds of balls, she dedicated hours to bowling as well.
Then, unexpectedly, a last-minute injury replacement for RCB altered the course of her career. Facing a daunting requirement of 43 runs off just 12 balls against the UP Warriorz, Rana astonishingly scored 26 runs off six deliveries, achieving the highest runs scored in an over during the WPL against Deepti Sharma. Although RCB ultimately lost that match, this performance marked a pivotal moment for Rana.
Shortly after the WPL, she received a call back to the Indian team, contributed to the team's World Cup success, and became a highly sought-after player in the subsequent auction. Tuesday's game reaffirmed that with Rana on the field, no target seems unachievable. Her powerful hacks to the leg side, smooth swings as she stepped out, and tactical targeting of smaller field areas were all evident as she launched two fours and a six off Gardner at the start of the 19th over.
As a supporter of Indian cricket, there was hope that defeat would not be the final outcome, but unfortunately, it was (with Prasad unable to secure the four runs needed off the last ball). Nevertheless, what stood out was the unwavering faith that Prasad expressed afterwards.
"The moment I entered the field, I was confident we would win," Prasad shared. "During that over bowled by Sophie Devine, where I hit a couple of boundaries, we discussed maintaining our momentum and continuing to score boundaries.
Even though I am disappointed that I didn’t finish the job, this experience has taught me a valuable lesson. I intend to train harder and ensure that the next time I’m faced with a similar situation, I will succeed."
The essence of confidence pervaded. Both Prasad and Rana emerged as winners, even on a night when their team faced a heartbreaking loss. The silver lining? The Delhi Capitals still have a chance to advance to the playoffs.
