Despite suffering a narrow 14-run loss to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Delhi Capitals all-rounder Vipraj Nigam remained upbeat about his team’s playoff chances, urging his side to tighten execution in the remaining matches. The young spin-bowling all-rounder didn’t hold back in his assessment of Tuesday night’s game, pinpointing last-minute decision-making and shot selection as critical areas where things went awry.
“There are some decisions that we take at the last moment, because of which the game gets messed up sometimes here and there,” Nigam told reporters after the match. “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.”
DC Remains in Top Four But Faces Stiff Competition
With 12 points in their kitty and a Net Run Rate that still keeps them within playoff contention, the Capitals currently occupy the fourth position on the IPL 2025 points table. However, the race to the top four is heating up, and DC knows they cannot afford more slip-ups if they hope to secure a top-two finish and get the benefit of an extra chance in the playoffs.
Chasing a stiff target of 205, DC looked in control early in the innings but faltered due to a series of poorly executed shots and untimely dismissals. Nigam, who played a crucial role with both bat and ball, emphasized the importance of set batters staying till the end.
“Our plan was to target their two main spinners, and we did that well in the first couple of overs. But there were a few moments where we erred in our shot selection or something like that happened, which resulted in the dismissal of our set players,” he explained.
“Against such a bowling line-up, it’s very difficult to come and hit shots immediately. That’s why if the set players had stayed, we could’ve easily chased down the total.”
Nigam Shines Amid Defeat
Despite the loss, Vipraj Nigam stood out with a strong all-round performance. The 20-year-old returned to form with figures of 2/41 — breaking a wicketless streak of four games — and played a blistering cameo of 38 off 19 balls, which included five fours and two sixes. His knock gave DC a fighting chance late in the game before KKR tightened the screws in the death overs.
Reflecting on his journey, Nigam said, “IPL is a journey where you always face ups and downs. But the main thing is how strong your mindset is, and how supportive the team atmosphere is. The seniors have played a huge role in backing me through the rough patches.”
Nigam also opened up about regaining form after a lean patch in domestic cricket. “Till last year, I had performed consistently in domestic cricket — I had a few scores of 70-75 in 2–3 matches. But then I had a few failures which dented my confidence. It’s always important to get that support and time to bounce back, and thankfully, I’ve been able to find my rhythm again here in the IPL.”
Injury Scare for KKR Skipper Rahane
In what could be a worrying sign for KKR, captain Ajinkya Rahane suffered a hand injury while fielding at short cover. The injury occurred when he attempted to stop a firm drive from DC opener Faf du Plessis and took a direct hit on his right hand. Rahane had to leave the field immediately for medical attention and did not return to the game. With his hand heavily bandaged, senior all-rounder Sunil Narine took over captaincy duties for the remaining nine overs.
KKR spinner Anukul Roy later provided a brief update, saying, “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 himself made an impact in the match, making his season debut and taking 1/27, including the crucial early wicket of Abishek Porel in the second ball of the innings — a strategic move by Rahane that paid off before his injury setback.
Looking Ahead
With both teams eyeing a playoff berth, the margins are getting tighter with each passing game. Delhi Capitals, despite their recent hiccups, have shown promise, and players like Vipraj Nigam stepping up could prove pivotal. Meanwhile, KKR will be hoping their skipper recovers quickly as the league stage enters a critical phase.
