Despite suffering a narrow 14-run defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals’ young spin all-rounder Vipraj Nigam remains confident that his side will not only make the playoffs but also fight for a top-two finish in the IPL 2025 standings. The Capitals, who have now lost three games at home, fell short while chasing 205, but the mood in the camp remains optimistic. Speaking after the match, Nigam, who impressed with both bat and ball, stressed the importance of finishing strong in the remaining fixtures. “There are some decisions that we take at the last moment, because of which the game gets messed up sometimes here and there. But we are still in the top four, and we have five more games left, in which we will try to come back and finish in the top two,” he told reporters.
Delhi currently sit in fourth place with 12 points, well within reach of a playoff spot. Nigam admitted that shot selection and execution under pressure were the key reasons behind their loss against KKR. “Our plan was to target their two main spinners and we did that in the first two overs, but there were a few moments where we erred in our shot selection. If the set players had continued, we could have won the match.” In what was a breakthrough performance for the 20-year-old, Nigam claimed 2 wickets for 41 runs and scored a quickfire 38 off 19 balls, including five boundaries and two sixes. This was a welcome return to form for the Uttar Pradesh cricketer, who had gone wicketless in his previous four games.
Reflecting on his recent performances and the mental challenges of professional cricket, Nigam said, “IPL is a journey where you always face ups and downs. But the main thing is how strong your mindset is, how the team atmosphere is — the seniors' role is very important, and they have always backed me.” He also opened up about his past struggles with form in domestic cricket, which had affected his confidence. “Till last year, I had performed the same way in domestic cricket as well. I had scored 70–75 runs in 2–3 matches, but in between, I flopped in a few innings, because of which my confidence went down. So it was a good thing that I got my form as soon as I came to IPL.”
While Delhi looks ahead, KKR too face concerns despite the win. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane was forced off the field after suffering a hand injury during the first innings. Fielding at short cover, Rahane took a direct hit from a powerful shot by Faf du Plessis, leading to his exit from the game. With his hand wrapped in heavy bandages and receiving stitches, Rahane did not return for the remainder of the match. Veteran spinner Sunil Narine took over the captaincy for the final nine overs and guided the team to a composed finish. Providing an update post-match, KKR spinner Anukul Roy said, “It doesn't look too serious. He may need a couple of days to recover. The doctors will assess and provide more clarity, but for now, he's doing fine. He got a few stitches.”
Anukul, who was playing his first game this season, made an immediate impact by dismissing Abishek Porel in the very first over of Delhi’s chase. His figures of 1/27 proved valuable in defending KKR’s total. With both teams now regrouping for crucial upcoming fixtures, Delhi will hope to convert their fighting spirit into consistent victories, while KKR await a full fitness report on their captain before planning their next move. The league stage is heating up, and each match from here on will be critical for playoff positioning.
