Virat Kohli is widely regarded as one of the finest batters in modern cricket. Virat is known for his consistency, intensity and ability to dominate bowlers and getting him out is a dream moment for any young cricketer.
For Vipraj Nigam, that dream became reality during the Indian Premier League 2025 season. Playing for Delhi Capitals against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 10, the young spinner dismissed Virat Kohli on the final ball of his second over. It was a surreal moment for the 21-year-old from Uttar Pradesh, marking a memorable start to his IPL journey.
Now, as Delhi Capitals prepare to face RCB again at the same venue on April 18 in the IPL 2026, the spotlight is once again on Vipraj Nigam. After an impressive debut season in 2025, where he played a key role in his team’s campaign, he is eager to repeat his success, especially against a batter of Virat Kohli’s stature.
However, Vipraj Nigam understands the challenge ahead. Virat Kohli is currently in excellent form, which makes the task even tougher. Speaking in an interaction, the young all-rounder shared his simple yet focused approach.
He explained that when bowling to a world-class player like Virat Kohli, there is very little room for error. Even a small mistake can result in runs and sometimes even good deliveries can be punished. Because of this, his strategy is to stay disciplined, trust his preparation and stick to the game plan without overthinking.
Vipraj Nigam is not new to handling big players. During his debut season in 2025, he also dismissed Rohit Sharma in a match against Mumbai Indians at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 13. These performances showed his ability to perform under pressure against top-quality opposition.
So far in the IPL 2026, Vipraj Nigam has played three matches under the leadership of Axar Patel and has taken one wicket. While the numbers may seem modest, his focus is clearly on making a bigger impact in the upcoming games.
As the two teams prepare to clash again, all eyes will be on this exciting contest. Will the young bowler recreate his magical moment or will Virat Kohli have the final say this time? What do you think?
