Hailing from Kontha Ahallup Makha Leikai in
Imphal East, Nilakanta started playing hockey in 2003. He played for Posterior Hockey Academy Manipur until 2011 when he switched to Bhopal Hockey Academy. He was selected for the national junior team for the
2014 Sultan of Johor Cup and drafted by the
Dabang Mumbai franchise of the
Hockey India League. ==References==