Nisarg Naik has spent almost three years in the business and has become one of the smartest minds in finding new talents. Uma Chetry is one of the exciting players who has entered the Indian women's cricket team
Uma Chetry, Nisarg Naik (Pic: Instagram/uma__chetry)
India, a country of around 145 crore people, is united by a single sport: cricket. Since childhood, countless youngsters dream of emulating legends like Sachin Tendulkar or Mithali Raj, though only a few manage to reach such heights.
While men's cricket has long dominated headlines, women's cricket has steadily gained attention, with fans lauding the players' skill and determination. Yet, the efforts behind spotting these talents often go unnoticed.
Enter Nisarg Naik, a 25-year-old cricket scout, who has played a significant role in shaping women's cricket in India.
On what scouts look for in a potential player, he said, "For me, the intent is more important: how they approach the ball and the attitude they wear during the matches. Also, how they perform under crucial situations and are they backing their self-instinct during such critical moments —these matter the most for me," Nisarg told mid-day.com.
He explained the scouting process further: "A scout keeps watching live matches and travels all across the country. We watch videos of players' previous matches and then judge them based on what they bring to the table."
Nisarg Naik (right) with Indian women's cricket team head coach, Amol Muzumdar, and men's cricket team player Rinku Singh
Having spent nearly three years in the field, Nisarg has become one of the sharpest minds in identifying new talent. On challenges faced, he said, "I judge a player's talent based on the videos they send. Initially, not all players speak about their flaws; they mostly try to showcase their skills".
One standout talent discovered by Nisarg is Uma Chetry, now a part of the current Indian women's cricket squad. The first time Nisarg saw her bat was during a T20 match in Guwahati, following a suggestion from an elite Indian coach.
The 23-year-old right-handed batswoman scored a blistering 77 runs off just 34 deliveries. Hailing from Bokakhat, a village six hours from Guwahati, the roads near Uma's home were reportedly constructed only after she represented India in the Asian Games. She is now part of the Indian cricket squad for the ongoing ODI Women's World Cup 2025.
Nisarg is hopeful that she will make India proud in the upcoming international matches.
Apart from new talents, Nisarg has also worked with several bigwigs of the game, including star Team India batswoman, Smriti Mandhana.
Nisarg Naik with Team India's Smriti Mandhana during the Women's Maharashtra Premier League
Apart from Uma, Nisarg named Niki Prasad as another exciting talent, who is likely to make the cut to the Indian team soon. She has also made her appearance for the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the Women's Premier League (WPL).
When asked about a player likely to shine in India’s upcoming ODI World Cup clash against Pakistan, Nisarg named Pratika Rawal. The match will be held at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on Sunday.
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