Vipraj Nigam, who was recently bought by Delhi Capitals for Rs 50 lakh in IPL 2025 mega auction, put on a show with his explosive batting to power Uttar Pradesh's dramatic four-wicket victory over Andhra Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy pre-quarterfinal.
Vipraj Nigam runs riot with spellbinding 8-ball 27 in UP's win in SMAT pre-quarters
It was a sight to watch Vipraj Nigam going all guns blazing and Rinku Singh playing a composed knock against his nature to propel UP into the quarterfinals where they will face Delhi.
Uttar Pradesh started their chase aggressively, reaching 70 runs without losing a wicket in just 8.1 overs. However, a mid-innings collapse reduced them to 109/6, leaving Andhra Pradesh in a strong position. Vipraj Nigam, along with Rinku Singh, took charge of the situation with 48 runs needed off 24 balls.
The duo of Rinku Singh and Vipraj Nigam displayed exceptional finishing skills, turning the match on its head in just three overs. The 17th over, bowled by KV Sasikanth, proved to be a game-changer, yielding 22 runs. Rinku Singh contributed with a powerful six, but it was Vipraj Nigam who stole the show with three magnificent sixes, including two over the extra cover and one over the long-on boundary. His unbeaten 27 off just 8 balls sealed the chase in the 19th over, earning him the well-deserved Player of the Match award.
Rinku Singh, with his steady 27 off 22 balls, provided the perfect foil to Vipraj Nigam's explosive batting. Vipraj not only fired with the bat but also delivered with the ball and took two wickets for 20 runs.
Andhra Pradesh struggled to build momentum throughout the innings, relying on late-innings contributions from their captain Ricky Bhui, who smashed two sixes in his quickfire 23-run knock. However, it was the late surge from KV Sasikanth and SDNV Prasad, who together scored 43 runs in just 2.4 overs, that pushed Andhra's total past 150.
Despite their late flourish, Andhra's total proved insufficient against Uttar Pradesh's formidable batting lineup. Vipraj Nigam, the rising star, stole the show with his all-round brilliance, guiding his team to a thrilling victory. His match-winning performance further solidified his reputation as a promising talent and a valuable asset for the Delhi Capitals in the upcoming IPL season. With this victory, Uttar Pradesh stormed into the quarterfinals riding high on confidence, ready to face their next challenge against Delhi.
