DPL T20: In the middle of the Delhi Premier League (DPL) T20, Central Delhi Queens (CDQ) all-rounder Nidhi Mahto lost her grandmother. But her father chose not to inform her so she could focus on cricket. With the teams lodged in hotels during the tournament, Nidhi remained unaware of the tragedy. It was only when she returned home on August 25 that she learnt about the loss.
Nidhi, bought for Rs 7.75 lakh as the third most expensive CDQ player, went on to sweep all the top individual awards. Her leg-spin spellbound rival batters throughout the league. In the final, which CDQ lost to South Delhi Superstarz by a solitary run, she narrowly missed out on a hat-trick.
Record-breaking run
A former Delhi under-15 captain, Nidhi carved out a niche for herself as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker, claiming nine wickets in four matches. She was also adjudged the Emerging Player of the Tournament and received the award for bowling the Best Yorker of the Final.
She became the first bowler in DPL history to take a five-wicket haul, achieving the feat against East Delhi Riders (EDR). Her 4.8 strike rate against the same side was also the best in a match. In addition, she bowled the most dot balls in the tournament (52).
Overall, she claimed nine wickets in 16 overs at an economy rate of 5.62 and a strike rate of 10.66 to win the Purple Cap.
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Elation all around
“The five-wicket burst is my most memorable spell and is very close to my heart because it was the first time I was bowling in the DPL and I became the first bowler to take a five-wicket haul in the tournament’s short history,” Nidhi, a class XII student of Cambridge Foundation School, Rajouri Garden, told Patriot.
She added that her performance in the final was equally satisfying. Although she missed a hat-trick, she was glad to have bowled a tight last over.
CDQ Team Director Gautam Vadhera praised her consistency. “She is a very good all-rounder. The turn she generated was amazing. She has a good head on her shoulders. She is a find of the tournament and would be a leading player in the future,” said Vadhera, a former Delhi batsman.
Shaped by coaches
Nidhi credits her development to coaches Sharvan Kumar, associated with her Rohtak Road Gymkhana club, and Shivaram Rai, former coach at Delhi Public School (RK Puram). Both have mentored her over the years.
Her father Sonu Mahto, an electrician, is also proud of her achievements. “I have taught her to work hard and never lose heart in adversity. She excelled as a bowler in the DPL this season, though she is a very good batter as well and has opened the innings for various teams. She started out as a pacer and switched to spin later,” he said.
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Looking ahead
Nidhi, who represented South Delhi Superstarz in last year’s DPL, has already attracted attention beyond the tournament. Two Women’s Premier League (WPL) franchisees have approached her, while two leading women’s colleges in Delhi have offered her admission into their graduation programmes.
Her father has yet to commit to any college, though both he and Nidhi appear to be waiting eagerly for the WPL auction. An intense bidding war is expected for her, and its outcome could change the course of the Mahto family’s life forever.
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