Who is Vipraj Nigam?
Delhi Capitals‘ young leg-spinning all-rounder from Uttar Pradesh, Vipraj Nigam, has now finally received his maiden Indian Premier League IPL cap. He received his first cap from DC in their IPL 2025 opening game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), which was held on March 24 at the YSR ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam. He was picked in the IPL for what he achieved in domestic cricket, and his rise to this moment has been awesome.
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Who is Vipraj Nigam: One of the Top Performers in both UPT20 and Domestic Cricket
Nigam came into the limelight for the selectors and fans alike in the Uttar Pradesh T20 League (UPT20) in 2024. Representing Lucknow Falcons, he was one of the leading wicket-takers, claiming 20 in 11 innings at a blistering strike rate of 11.15. With the ability to bowl variations in both leg-breaks and googlies, he was crucial to his side’s success. And he was especially potent when defending totals, taking 14 of his 20 wickets in the second innings.
He earned a call-up to play for Uttar Pradesh in all domestic formats thanks to his splendid performance in the UPT20. He featured in three first-class games, five List-A and seven T20 matches during the 2024-25 season. He accounted for eight wickets in seven matches during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy season, furthering his reputation for an extensive economy rate of 7.12. His batting prowess was on full display, scoring 27 runs in a mere eight balls during a critical quarter-final match against Andhra, with his performance helping his team to a win and earning him the Player of the Match award.
Making his IPL debut and leaving mark immediately
Nigam made quite an entrance in the IPL with a grove of performance. In the mega auction in Jeddah in November 2024, he was acquired by Delhi Capitals for INR 50 lakh. He made an instant impact on his debut against LSG by taking out South African batter Aiden Markram in his very fourth delivery of the match. Markram, looking to clear the boundary, mistimed his shot and was caught by Mitchell Starc at long-off, handing Nigam a dream start to his IPL career.
But his first match challenged his resilience, too. After an impressive first over, he struggled in his second, yielding 25 runs, three of them six Nicholas Pooran. It underscored the difficulties of performing at the highest level and the adjustment process facing the young spinner.
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Although he hasn’t played much at the domestic level, Nigam has already displayed the potential of becoming a future star. Bowlers will greatly benefit from his ability to generate sharp turns, and having him as an option with a bat makes him a valuable addition to Delhi Capitals’ squad. In a pre-season intra-squad match for DC, he scored a fast-paced 54 off 29 balls, which had seven fours and two sixes.
Many will see playing in the Delhi Capitals’ spin department alongside Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav as as an opportunity to learn the ropes from seasoned pros. His aggressive batting and skills with the ball bring depth to the squad, and fans will be keen to see how his journey in IPL 2025 pans out.
Vipraj Nigam, who is now known for his less by-less plays in more numbers, has become a popular name in Indian cricket, as his name comes out in upcoming matches playing ‘more’ as his plays get recognised by people. His ascendancy in the IPL stands testament to his ability, and if supported, he can be an integral part of India’s spin bowling future.