[Exclusive] Attending to play towards and converse with MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli was a dream come true for me: Vipraj Nigam | CricTracker

Enjoying his first Indian Premier League season in 2025, Vipraj Nigam certainly impressed together with his cricketing abilities whereas representing Delhi Capitals. The leg-spinning all-rounder performed all 14 matches for the franchise, choosing up 11 wickets along with displaying glimpses of domination with the bat.

Earlier than the success at IPL, Vipraj had a formidable run on the UP T20 League in 2024 for Lucknow Falcons as he picked up 20 wickets in 11 innings at an financial system of seven.45 within the season. This meant the teenager earned his debut caps throughout all codecs for Uttar Pradesh.

You took a little bit of a beating in your first two IPL matches however then bounced again with two wickets every towards CSK, RCB and MI, together with the wickets of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. What was going via your thoughts after the early setbacks and the way did you handle to show issues round?

To start with, I received the sort of begin I wished with the ball, however in my second over a number of boundaries have been hit, and even a catch was dropped. Naturally, there was some stress because it was my first time taking part in at this degree, and I apprehensive that I’d miss out on future video games due to it. However the good factor was that I had already performed the UP T20 League and different home cricket, the place you discover ways to make comebacks. Even when your bowling doesn’t go effectively, you may nonetheless contribute via fielding or batting. My solely focus was on serving to the group win, regardless of how, as a result of ultimately, the outcome for the group is what issues.

Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli – whose wicket gave you extra extra satisfaction and why?

For certain, Virat Kohli’s wicket gave me extra satisfaction as a result of it got here at RCB’s dwelling floor. To dismiss such a giant legend in entrance of his dwelling crowd was actually particular. I had stated through the IPL itself that he was my dream wicket, so undoubtedly Virat Kohli.

Besides Kuldeep Yadav, you have been the one bowler who performed all 14 matches within the season. What kind of conversations did you’ve with Kuldeep?

Even earlier than the event, I had spoken to Kuldeep bhai. Our chats have been principally about how one can deal with stress on the larger levels just like the IPL. He’s been doing it 12 months after 12 months, giving his group good begins and taking wickets for Delhi Capitals, India and the opposite groups he has performed for. He all the time instructed me that there will probably be comeback video games, ups and downs, and that it will be essential to remain targeted and raise myself after setbacks. Truthfully, the atmosphere at DC was so supportive that it didn’t even really feel prefer it was my first season as a result of quantity of backing I obtained from my teammates.

You performed a few fiery knocks underneath stress throughout IPL 2025 (39 off 15 vs LSG at No. 8 and 38 off 19 vs KKR at No. 7). How do you strategy high-pressure run-chases when batting decrease down the order?

Batting decrease down the order, within the positions I often occupy, means you need to go for large photographs immediately because it’s hardly ever a run-a-ball state of affairs. My strategy has all the time been easy, which is to play in keeping with the state of affairs. Whether or not it’s a high-pressure chase or a run-a-ball requirement, I attempt to stick with my pure recreation and preserve my thoughts clear. Having readability in a single’s thoughts will all the time assist them bat in a fashion which helps the group.

You have been a top-order batter in age-group cricket. What was the turning level that made you shift your focus to leg-spin?

Once I was taking part in U-19 cricket for UP and returned to my coach Mr. Sarwar Nawab after the event, he instructed me that whereas my batting was good, I additionally wanted to develop my bowling. Since most gamers bowled part-time off-spin, he inspired me to attempt one thing completely different; that’s how I began with leg-spin. Later on the NCA, the coaches additionally suggested me to concentrate on bowling alongside my batting. So, it was primarily my coach’s push that made me take leg-spin severely.

You earned your UP debut in all codecs after a stable displaying within the UP T20 League final 12 months. You might be additionally coming off a formidable IPL marketing campaign. Are you feeling any stress to satisfy expectations?

Sure, there may be all the time a little bit of stress, particularly after taking part in on such a giant stage just like the IPL, as a result of folks begin setting expectations wherever you go. I believe each participant feels that. Personally, I identical to to take it step-by-step and match-by-match with out pondering too far forward or trying again an excessive amount of.

Any humorous or memorable moments from the primary season of the UP T20 League that you just’d wish to share?

There have been some humorous moments too, however these are finest stored off digicam (chuckles). As for memorable ones, the primary UP T20 League itself was very particular as a result of it gave us such a giant platform. Enjoying high-pressure video games for the primary time with Lucknow Falcons, the group I’m nonetheless a part of, was a tremendous expertise. These stress conditions actually ready me for what I confronted later within the IPL. I’m very grateful to our affiliation and franchise for that. Enjoying night time matches in entrance of crowds, sharing the dressing room with IPL gamers, these are reminiscences I’ll all the time carry.

Spinners are sometimes focused by power-hitters in T20 cricket. You will have come out on high as a rule to date. Do you go in with pre-set plans for such batters or purely depend on intuition?

Each bowler makes pre-set plans for various batters, however as soon as boundaries begin coming, in that second, you typically simply take into consideration surviving the over. Nonetheless, at a very good degree of cricket, you need to plan correctly. This contains understanding the strengths and weaknesses of every batter and utilizing matchups well; all this stuff change into fairly essential.

You will have already skilled large crowds within the IPL and have performed significantly effectively of their presence. Which venue felt probably the most intimidating and why?

For me, it needs to be the Chinnaswamy. Everybody is aware of the fanbase there may be extremely passionate. You may hardly hear something aside from the ‘Virat Kohli’ chants, and it’s unattainable to even discover the voices of the opposition followers. On high of that, the bottom dimensions are smaller in comparison with many different venues, which makes it a unique sort of problem for any bowler.

All of your wickets within the debut IPL season have been of high-quality batters. Any interactions with these cricketers or some other chat that stood out for you?

Within the IPL, I made it some extent to satisfy somebody or the opposite after virtually each match, particularly the leg-spinners within the opposition. Over the previous couple of years, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has additionally guided me loads, which has been actually useful. And each time I meet Rinku Singh, who can be from UP, it feels nice as a result of he shares recommendation on how one can refine abilities and enhance my recreation too.

Each cricketer has one favorite format. Which one is yours and why?

After taking part in the IPL, I’d say T20Is could be my favorite. I desire white-ball cricket, however I additionally love taking part in red-ball matches. I’ve performed the Ranji Trophy, U-23, and different grassroots cricket for my state. Pink-ball cricket brings a very completely different problem as a result of only one session can shift the momentum between groups. I actually take pleasure in that session-by-session dynamism.

You had conversations with MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli after DC’s matches towards CSK and RCB. What did you achieve from these interactions?

To start with, simply attending to play towards and converse with Dhoni and Virat was a dream for me. I used to see on Instagram and social media how gamers meet and chat after matches, so experiencing that myself felt actually particular. Once I spoke to them, I primarily requested about my bowling and the place I might enhance and how one can get higher. Though it was our first interplay, they have been very open and gave me sincere suggestions, together with recommendation on how I might preserve bettering sooner or later.

Fast-fire

Cricketing idol from exterior India?

Yasir Shah

Hardest batter you’ve got bowled to?

Nicholas Pooran

Most satisfying sort of dismissal?

Bowled (T20Is and ODIs), Caught at slip (Assessments)

Most well-liked over to bowl in a T20 – 1st or twentieth?

twentieth

If not cricket as a career, then which one?

Physician

One phrase to explain your recreation?

Composed

Dream wicket?

Suryakumar Yadav

One teammate you’ll belief in a last-over chase?

Rinku Singh

Captain Axar Patel in a single phrase?

Improbable

Guess The Teammate

At all times late to apply

Sameer Rizvi

The prankster of the group

Kuldeep Yadav

Finest dancer

Donovan Ferreira

Most severe within the dressing room

KL Rahul