Every IPL season gives birth to a new sensation, and this time, it’s Vipraj Nigam—the 20-year-old leg-spinning allrounder from Uttar Pradesh who turned a nightmare debut into a heroic fairytale.
Bowling against the likes of Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh, Nigam was smashed for 35 runs in just two overs. His only consolation? The wicket of Aiden Markram. It seemed like a debut to forget—until Nigam picked up the bat and changed the script.
With Delhi reeling at 113/6 in a massive 210-run chase, he walked in with nothing to lose but everything to prove. What followed was pure carnage. Facing Ravi Bishnoi, a bowler with 42 T20Is under his belt, Nigam showed no fear—smacking a six and two audacious boundaries in one over. In just 15 balls, he hammered 39 runs, stitching together a match-winning 55-run partnership with Ashutosh Sharma. From being a bowler who couldn’t complete his spell to a batting hero who took Delhi to victory, Nigam had just announced his arrival.
But his IPL success was no fluke—his rise has been nothing short of meteoric. He first grabbed attention in the UPT20 League, where he finished as the second-highest wicket-taker with 20 wickets in 11 matches at an economy of 7.45. His performances earned him a first-class debut for Uttar Pradesh, where he bagged 13 wickets in three Ranji Trophy games, including scalps of Wriddhiman Saha and Sudip Gharami. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he showed his all-round brilliance, grabbing eight wickets at an economy of 7.12 and smashing a match-winning 27 off just 8 balls against Andhra.
From playing in local leagues to owning the grandest stage, Vipraj Nigam is no longer just another young talent—he’s a name to remember. The IPL has a new maverick, and he’s only getting started.
