The Indian Premier League (IPL) has long been a platform where young talents announce themselves to the cricketing world, and on Monday, Vipraj Nigam did just that.
Making his IPL debut for Delhi Capitals (DC) against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the fourth match of the ongoing season, the 20-year-old bowling all-rounder from Uttar Pradesh delivered a performance that turned heads and sparked excitement among fans and experts alike.
Introduced into the attack with LSG off to a flyer at 40-0 in four overs, the leg-spinner struck on just his fourth delivery, dismissing Aiden Markram for 15. The South African misjudged a flighted leg-break and holed out to Mitchell Starc at long-off, giving Nigam a dream start.
Nigam was smashed for four sixes by Nicholas Pooran in his second over. But he also trapped the West Indian and could have taken his wicket had Sameer Rizvi not dropped a sitter at backward-point.
It was with the bat that Nigam truly stole the show. Chasing 210, DC were reeling at 113/6 when he walked in at No. 8. What followed was a breathtaking display of power-hitting. Scoring 39 off just 15 balls, including two sixes and five fours, he stitched a match-turning 55-run partnership off 22 balls with Ashutosh Sharma. Though he fell in the 17th over, his cameo swung the momentum, setting the stage for Sharma’s unbeaten 66 to seal a dramatic one-wicket win for DC.
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading...
Who is Vipraj Nigam?
Born in 2004, Vipraj Nigam hails from Uttar Pradesh, a state with a rich cricketing heritage that has produced talents like Suresh Raina and Piyush Chawla. A leg-spin bowling all-rounder, Nigam combines deceptive spin with explosive batting, making him a versatile asset. His cricketing journey gained momentum in domestic circuits, where he showcased his all-round skills across formats.
As he put impressive performances for Lucknow Falcons in the UP T20 2024, where he took 20 wickets in 11 innings at an economy of 7.45, he was handed his domestic debut in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25.Â
Also read: KL Rahul and Athiya Shetty Blessed with Baby Girl: KL Rahul Announces on Instagram
In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25, he picked up eight wickets at an economy rate of just over seven, proving his mettle as a bowler. His batting flair came to the fore with an eight-ball 27 alongside Rinku Singh against Andhra Pradesh, helping Uttar Pradesh chase 157 with a knock that hinted at his ability to shift gears under pressure.
Delhi Capitals recognized this potential, snapping him up for INR 50 lakh at the IPL 2025 mega auction in November 2024. While his price tag was modest, his debut suggests DC may have secured a bargain.
For Latest IPL 2025 UpdatesÂ
