New Delhi, March 18 – Niki Prasad says lifting the ICC Women's U19 T20 World Cup trophy for the second time – as the team's captain – was an experience unlike any other, and that has only intensified her desire to win more titles for India in the future.
The 2025 U19 Women's T20 World Cup winning team was among the five champion teams felicitated by the BCCI at the recent annual awards in New Delhi on Sunday. All members and coaches received special medals from former players Sudha Shah and Shubhangi Kulkarni.
“I think that day was very special for all of us. Every child dreams of playing for India, and for me, it was playing for the India U19 team and also leading. So, I think lifting the trophy for the second time felt very special.”
“Now, looking back, of course, it was a really memorable day. Even just being here, I was really excited to be around all the legends. So it was a very exciting day,” Niki said in a video posted by the BCCI on their ‘X’ account on Wednesday.
With India winning the Women's ODI World Cup, Men’s Champions Trophy, Men’s U19 World Cup, and Men’s T20 World Cup, Niki said seeing the trophies won by India filled her with immense pride. “Firstly, I think I am proud to be Indian, and I am very proud to be Indian.
“Also, I think it is a very memorable and happy moment to be, not just sharing the U19 World Cup trophy with my teammates, but also being a part of the same year, being a part of seeing the women's team lift the World Cup, and then the men's one. So, I think as an Indian and as a cricketer, it is a really proud moment for me, especially in this year.”
Niki emphasized that the BCCI's sustained investment in youth cricket is a key factor in this success. “I think the BCCI plays a major role in the growth of the Indian team and the future. They have invested a lot of vision and resources in the youth.
“So, I think that will definitely pay off, and we have already seen that in both men’s and women’s cricket. It is very important to have such support from the BCCI. I think we will keep growing from here on.
With Niki playing for Delhi Capitals in the WPL and Karnataka in domestic cricket, she said her aim is to win more trophies when she joins the senior team. “For me, it's not just about playing for India, but it's about lifting the trophy again and again for India. So that is my ultimate goal for India. I think my first thought is that we have one common thing – that all of us have one ICC trophy.”
She further talked about how she would interact with the senior team captain, Harmanpreet Kaur. “Also, I think the interaction would be quite interesting. I would ask about how their experience has been after winning in the T20s and ODIs. So, I think I would probably ask how they must have been feeling.”
Niki concluded by saying that the CoE infrastructure gives them the edge to be world-class players. “I think the infrastructure that we have in Bangalore, the CoE, the gym facilities, and the ground facilities, is one of the best in the world.
“So, I think that would really help all the youngsters and all the current cricket players to go there and keep training and keep evolving. So, I think that plays a major role in the growth of the Indian cricket team.”