Nensi Patel shrugs off nerves ahead of T20 World Cup

The reality of representing New Zealand still hasn't quite sunk in for cricket allrounder Nensi Patel.

The 23-year-old has been named in the White Ferns squad for the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup in England and Wales, capping a rapid rise that began with her international debut earlier this year.

Born overseas and raised in New Zealand, Patel has become the first Indian-born cricketer to play for the White Ferns.

"Everything happened so quickly and haven't been really able to process it," Patel said.

"I still wake up in the morning and I'm, like, 'Wow, this all happened'."

Patel's family moved to New Zealand from Miyagam in the state of Gujarat when she was 6 years old.

Patel made her White Ferns debut in a series against Zimbabwe earlier this year and has since been named in the squad for the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup in England and Wales in June.

"We moved to Auckland and then, a few months later, we moved down to Tauranga," she said. "We've lived here ever since."

Her cricketing journey began at Tauranga's Albion Cricket Club after her father introduced her to the sport.

She also credits a primary school teacher, Mrs McDonald, for putting her on the school team.

Patel's ambitions took shape when she met former captain of the national women's cricket team Suzie Bates at the age of 9.

"When White Ferns came to Bay Oval, I got the opportunity to go to one of their training sessions and I met Susie Bates there," she said.

"[Bates] gave me a pink White Ferns hat which I would wear around the house so often," Patel said. "Seeing them at that stage when I was that young and I was, like, 'Wow, this is something that I can do for myself if I train hard and just work towards that goal'."

That childhood dream has now come full circle, with Patel sharing a dressing room with Bates, who is set to retire after a 20-year international career following the T20 World Cup.

"[Bates has] got so much knowledge and just having that opportunity to learn from her while being around her is amazing," Patel said.

Allrounder Nensi Patel plays for Northern Districts in domestic cricket. Photo: www.photosport.nz

Patel is proud of her Indian heritage and believes it has helped shape her game.

"My coaches tell me that I've the Indian wrists," she said.

Patel still has grandparents and great-grandparents in India, trying to visit whenever she can.

"I'm very proud of my Indian heritage," she said.

"When I was told that I was the first Indian to play for the White Ferns and to represent the country, I think it's an awesome achievement."

As a spinning allrounder, Patel said she had always wanted to contribute to multiple facets of the game.

Like many Indian-born New Zealand cricketers, she has also travelled to India to train and develop her skills.

Patel said being the first Indian-born player in the White Ferns carried great responsibility, and she hoped to inspire younger players from the community to follow in her footsteps.

"It's a great game and it's for everyone," she said.

Outside of cricket, Patel enjoys going for walks to decompress, playing board games and spending time with her family.

She looks up to Virat Kohli and Melie Kerr as her cricketing heroes.

With the World Cup approaching in June, Patel said she was looking forward to the experience.

"I look forward to getting there and obviously meeting all the other international players, hopefully getting to chat with them and ... learning by watching as well," she said.

"I haven't really felt the nerves as of yet. I think that might come on when we're about to start the World Cup."