Rising New Zealand U19 cricketers Darcy Prasad and Rishika Jaswal say the intense competition and challenging conditions they encountered at the T20 World Cup in Malaysia have given them valuable experience.
New Zealand advanced to the Super Six knockout stages of the ICC Women's U19 T20 World Cup before failing to defend 89 against a clinical England side.
India eventually defeated South Africa with a dominant performance in the final in Kuala Lumpur to win the 2025 tournament and secure back-to-back world titles.
Darcy Prasad has been playing cricket for as long as she can remember.
"Both my brothers played, and we always played in the backyard as a family," Prasad said.
Prasad was selected as a wicketkeeper-batter for the U19 New Zealand team competing at the T20 World Cup.
"It was so cool wearing the fern and having my family's name on a New Zealand shirt," she said. "It felt pretty unreal."
Born in Wellington, Darcy Prasad has Indian origins on her mother's side. Photo: ICC / Getty Images
Prasad said the hot conditions in Malaysia were among the biggest challenges she faced during the World Cup.
"It's very warm on the pitches," she said. "[The pitches] turn a lot more than in New Zealand, and the bounce and outfield conditions are very different. It took a while to adjust because I'd never played in Asian conditions before."
Born in Wellington, Prasad has Indian origins on her mother's side.
"My grandfather and his family immigrated to Fiji from India, and then he moved to New Zealand when he was about 30," she said.
Prasad was excited to learn as much as she could from competing on the World Cup stage.
Fellow squad member Aucklander Rishika Jaswal expressed the same sentiment.
"It was quite a broad experience, and getting used to how other teams play was really beneficial," Jaswal said. "It provided significant learnings to take back to New Zealand and further develop our game."
Jaswal, a leg-spinner, started playing cricket when she was a young child.
"More than my parents, it was my friends who got me into the game," Jaswal said.
Jaswal was born in Punjab, India, and her family moved to New Zealand when she was five years old.
In 2024, she received her first domestic contract from the Auckland Hearts, having made her senior debut against Northern Districts in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield in November.
Rishika Jaswal's family moved to New Zealand when she was five years old. Photo: ICC / Getty Images
Jaswal was named the most valuable player in the Girls First XI Cup last year.
"I've got a couple of games left for the North Shore cricket club, and also some matches at the back end of the season for the Auckland Hearts," she said. "I'm looking forward to getting back into that."
Prasad was also looking forward to some club cricket action.
"I got a bit of [club] cricket in Christchurch, and then I come back to Auckland for university," said Prasad, who is studying paramedicine at AUT.
Both players expressed pride in their Indian heritage.
"I'm quite proud and grateful to have supportive parents who taught me all the values and the importance of being humble," Jaswal said.
Prasad agreed.
"I'm very proud of my Indian heritage," Prasad said. "My grandfather had to work really hard to get here, and I'm truly proud of what my name represents."
Winning a spot in the White Ferns' U19 squad has been a long-standing goal for both of them.
"I'd also love to work part time as a paramedic because I'm really passionate about my degree and, of course, I aspire to be a professional cricketer - hopefully earning a spot on the White Ferns," Prasad said.
Jaswal shared the same White Ferns dream.
"Playing consistently for the Auckland Hearts is a huge goal of mine, and I hope to play for the White Ferns one day," she said.
Prasad has a few words of advice for aspiring cricketers.
"I would say the journey is going to be challenging," she said. "There are many ups and downs. You'll have brilliant moments, but you'll also face some really tough times, like getting out early or not making the team you expected.
"You just have to find your own way to manage the highs and lows and keep working because, hopefully, it will all pay off in the end."
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