[Exclusive] Getting to play against and speak with MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli was a dream come true for me: Vipraj Nigam

Delhi Capitals' Vipraj Nigam shares valuable experiences from his maiden IPL season and other insights.

Published - 18 Aug 2025, 17:32 IST | Updated - 18 Aug 2025, 17:33 IST

6 Min Read

[Exclusive] Getting to play against and speak with MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli was a dream come true for me: Vipraj Nigam

Playing his first Indian Premier League season in 2025, Vipraj Nigam surely impressed with his cricketing skills while representing Delhi Capitals. The leg-spinning all-rounder played all 14 matches for the franchise, picking up 11 wickets in addition to showing glimpses of domination with the bat.

Before the success at IPL, Vipraj had an impressive run at the UP T20 League in 2024 for Lucknow Falcons as he picked up 20 wickets in 11 innings at an economy of 7.45 in the season. This meant the youngster earned his debut caps across all formats for Uttar Pradesh.

You took a bit of a beating in your first two IPL matches but then bounced back with two wickets each against CSK, RCB and MI, including the wickets of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. What was going through your mind after the early setbacks and how did you manage to turn things around?

In the beginning, I got the kind of start I wanted with the ball, but in my second over a few boundaries were hit, and even a catch was dropped. Naturally, there was some pressure since it was my first time playing at this level, and I worried that I might miss out on future games because of it. But the good thing was that I had already played the UP T20 League and other domestic cricket, where you learn how to make comebacks. Even if your bowling doesn’t go well, you can still contribute through fielding or batting. My only focus was on helping the team win, no matter how, because in the end, the result for the team is what matters.

Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli - whose wicket gave you more more satisfaction and why?

For sure, Virat Kohli’s wicket gave me more satisfaction because it came at RCB’s home ground. To dismiss such a big legend in front of his home crowd was really special. I had said during the IPL itself that he was my dream wicket, so definitely Virat Kohli.

Except Kuldeep Yadav, you were the only bowler who played all 14 matches in the season. What sort of conversations did you have with Kuldeep?

Even before the tournament, I had spoken to Kuldeep bhai. Our chats were mostly about how to handle pressure at the bigger stages like the IPL. He’s been doing it year after year, giving his team good starts and taking wickets for Delhi Capitals, India and the other teams he has played for. He always told me that there will be comeback games, ups and downs, and that it would be important to stay focused and lift myself after setbacks. Honestly, the environment at DC was so supportive that it didn’t even feel like it was my first season due to the amount of backing I received from my teammates.

Also Read:Kuldeep Yadav Net Worth & Salary: Endorsements, Career Achievements

You played a couple of fiery knocks under pressure during IPL 2025 (39 off 15 vs LSG at No. 8 and 38 off 19 vs KKR at No. 7). How do you approach high-pressure run-chases when batting lower down the order?

Batting lower down the order, in the positions I usually occupy, means you have to go for big shots straight away since it’s rarely a run-a-ball situation. My approach has always been simple, which is to play according to the situation. Whether it’s a high-pressure chase or a run-a-ball requirement, I try to stick to my natural game and keep my mind clear. Having clarity in one's mind will always help them bat in a manner which helps the team.

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

When I was playing U-19 cricket for UP and returned to my coach Mr. Sarwar Nawab after the tournament, he told me that while my batting was good, I also needed to develop my bowling. Since most players bowled part-time off-spin, he encouraged me to try something different; that’s how I started with leg-spin. Later at the NCA, the coaches also advised me to focus on bowling alongside my batting. So, it was mainly my coach’s push that made me take leg-spin seriously.

You earned your UP debut in all formats after a solid showing in the UP T20 League last year. You are also coming off an impressive IPL campaign. Are you feeling any pressure to meet expectations?

Yes, there is always a bit of pressure, especially after playing on such a big stage like the IPL, because people start setting expectations wherever you go. I think every player feels that. Personally, I just like to take it step-by-step and match-by-match without thinking too far ahead or looking back too much.

Any funny or memorable moments from the first season of the UP T20 League that you’d like to share?

There were some funny moments too, but those are best kept off camera (chuckles). As for memorable ones, the first UP T20 League itself was very special because it gave us such a big platform. Playing high-pressure games for the first time with Lucknow Falcons, the team I’m still part of, was an amazing experience. Those pressure situations really prepared me for what I faced later in the IPL. I’m very thankful to our association and franchise for that. Playing night matches in front of crowds, sharing the dressing room with IPL players, those are memories I’ll always carry.

Spinners are often targeted by power-hitters in T20 cricket. You have come out on top more often than not so far. Do you go in with pre-set plans for such batters or purely rely on instinct?

Every bowler makes pre-set plans for different batters, but once boundaries start coming, in that moment, you often just think about surviving the over. Still, at a good level of cricket, you have to plan properly. This comprises understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each batter and using matchups smartly; all these things become quite important.

You have already experienced massive crowds in the IPL and have played considerably well in their presence. Which venue felt the most intimidating and why?

For me, it has to be the Chinnaswamy. Everyone knows the fanbase there is incredibly passionate. You can hardly hear anything other than the 'Virat Kohli' chants, and it’s impossible to even notice the voices of the opposition fans. On top of that, the ground dimensions are smaller compared to many other venues, which makes it a different kind of challenge for any bowler.

All your wickets in the debut IPL season were of high-quality batters. Any interactions with those cricketers or any other chat that stood out for you?

In the IPL, I made it a point to meet someone or the other after almost every match, especially the leg-spinners in the opposition. Over the past couple of years, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has also guided me a lot, which has been really helpful. And whenever I meet Rinku Singh, who is also from UP, it feels great because he shares advice on how to refine skills and improve my game too.

Every cricketer has one favourite format. Which one is yours and why?

After playing the IPL, I’d say T20Is would be my favourite. I prefer white-ball cricket, but I also love playing red-ball matches. I’ve played the Ranji Trophy, U-23, and other grassroots cricket for my state. Red-ball cricket brings a completely different challenge because just one session can shift the momentum between teams. I really enjoy that session-by-session dynamism.

You had conversations with MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli after DC’s matches against CSK and RCB. What did you gain from those interactions?

First of all, just getting to play against and speak with Dhoni and Virat was a dream for me. I used to see on Instagram and social media how players meet and chat after matches, so experiencing that myself felt really special. When I spoke to them, I mainly asked about my bowling and where I could improve and how to get better. Even though it was our first interaction, they were very open and gave me honest feedback, along with advice on how I could keep improving in the future.