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India U19 Women’s captain, Niki Prasad, has revealed that former Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid has been her inspiration since childhood. Currently leading the Indian team in the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia, Niki shared how Dravid’s calm demeanor and flawless batting technique influenced her early cricket journey.
Popularly known as ‘The Wall,’ Dravid was celebrated for his ability to handle the toughest bowling attacks with patience and precision. Despite retiring in 2012, he remains India’s third-highest run-scorer in international cricket and a role model for many aspiring cricketers.
“Rahul Dravid has been an inspiration and an idol for me. Growing up, I have looked up to him because when I started playing, there were not many women’s cricketers who were available online. I am from Karnataka and he is from Karnataka. So, I used to just watch his batting videos, watch his shots and all of that,” Niki shared in a video posted on ICC’s social media platforms.
Niki also recalled instances of playing against Dravid’s son, Samit, and how those matches gave her an opportunity to witness the legendary cricketer up close. “There were a lot of instances where we used to play against his son’s team. So, he used to come to the ground and watch all of us play and that’s when I used to be really excited to play the match,” she said.
She admired not only Dravid’s technical skills but also his humility and calm nature, which resonate with her own personality. “He still inspires me because he’s very humble, he’s very calm. And that’s my nature,” Niki added.
With India being the defending champions in the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, Niki and her team aim to retain the title while drawing inspiration from legends like Dravid. Her journey, rooted in admiration for a stalwart of the game, exemplifies the deep connections between cricketing generations.