India Women’s National Cricket Team star Niki Prasad has created history with a stunning performance against Zimbabwe with a stunning spell in the second T20I in Raipur on Sunday, October 18. Niki Prasad achieved a rare world record by taking two wickets off the first two balls of her T20I career.

With this achievement, the 20-year-old Karnataka cricketer, who led India to their second ICC Women's U19 World Cup title in 2025, became the first Indian player, across men's and women's cricket, to achieve the incredible feat of taking two wickets off the first two balls. Earlier, Nahida Akter replaces Nigar Sultana as Bangladesh announce new T20I captain.

Niki Prasad creates history with two wickets off first two balls of her T20I career

Niki Prasad delivered a dream performance with the ball in the second T20I in Raipur on Sunday between India and Zimbabwe. She finished with figures of 2 wickets for just 7 runs in two overs, as India won the game by nine wickets, sealing the three-match T20I series 2-0.

By taking two wickets off the first two balls, Niki became the first Indian and only the third player in the world to take two wickets off the first two balls of their T20I career. India captain Smriti Mandhana introduced Niki into the attack in the 15th over of Zimbabwe's innings.

The young off-spinner made an immediate impact by dismissing Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano on the very first ball. The Zimbabwe batter was caught by wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh. On the second ball of her spell, she trapped Nyasha Gwanzura leg-before-wicket (LBW) for a golden duck.

Women bowlers to take wicket on first ball of their T20I career

• Chloe Tryon (2010): Dismissed Stafanie Taylor against West Indies.
• Akshatha Rao (2019): Dismissed Ayasha Rahman against Bangladesh.
• Suhani Thadani (2021): Dismissed Roberta Moretti against Brazil.
• Niki Prasad (2026): Dismissed Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano against Zimbabwe.

With this, Niki achieved a record that very few bowlers have managed in T20I cricket. Before Niki, only three Indian players had taken a wicket off the first ball of their T20I careers. Amid this, Abhishek Sharma snubbed as Abhinav Mukund names India’s top 3 all-time T20I batters.

Ajit Agarkar dismissed Herschelle Gibbs in 2006, Pragyan Ojha removed Shakib Al Hasan in 2009, and Virat Kohli dismissed Kevin Pietersen through a stumping off a wide delivery in 2011. However, none of them managed to take another wicket off the second ball.

✌️ in ✌️ That's how Niki Prasad opened her International wicket tally ✅ Updates ▶️ https://t.co/kECmCQJzty #TeamIndia | #INDvZIM | @mflone_ https://t.co/wVgHTYJDXa

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) October 18, 2026

Niki Joins Michael Kasprowicz and Akshatha Rao in elite list

Niki has now joined Australia's Michael Kasprowicz and USA's Akshatha Rao in the exclusive list of players who took two wickets off the first two balls of their T20I careers.

Kasprowicz achieved the feat against New Zealand in Auckland on February 17, 2005, dismissing Stephen Fleming and Mathew Sinclair off the first two balls.

In women's T20I cricket, Akshatha Rao of the USA reached the milestone against Bangladesh on September 1, 2019, when she dismissed Ayasha Rahman and Sanjida Islam.

Niki Prasad's Raipur heroics vs Zimbabwe

Niki made her T20I debut for India on October 16 in Raipur, and her latest performance has given her career a memorable start. She finished the second T20I with the stunning spell of 2/7 in 2 overs, helping India to restrict Zimbabwe to just 102 runs in 20 overs to win the game by 9 wickets.

Chasing the paltry target, Shafali Verma’s 55 and captain Mandhana’s unbeaten 47 were enough for the hosts to complete the victory in 8.5 overs in Raipur with the final T20I scheduled for October 20 at the same venue.