Rishabh Pant, the most expensive cricketer in IPL history, did not have an auspicious start to his tenure as captain of the Lucknow Super Giants. The aggressive wicketkeeper-batter was dismissed for a six-ball duck and made several questionable decisions while defending a target of 209, ultimately leading to LSG's defeat despite having control of the match for most of the day. Pant's troubles continued even after the game concluded; during the post-match presentation, he failed to recall the name of Vipraj Nigam, one of the standout players for Delhi Capitals that evening.

Batting at No. 8 with DC in a precarious position at 113/6 in 12.3 overs, needing 97 runs from just 45 balls, Vipraj delivered a remarkable performance, scoring 39 runs off 15 balls, which shifted the momentum in favor of DC. His partnership with Ashutosh was pivotal in turning the tide. Ultimately, Ashutosh finished with an impressive 66 runs off 31 balls, leading DC to victory with one wicket remaining and three balls to spare.

Following the match, Pant was asked to identify the key moments that led to his team's downfall. He acknowledged the significant partnerships between Tristian Stubbs and Ashutosh, as well as between Ashutosh and Vipraj, as critical turning points. While he praised the performance of the DC batters, he mistakenly referred to Vipraj as "the one other guy."

"We took some early wickets, but we recognized it was a good batting surface. We needed to consistently execute the basics. They had a couple of strong partnerships—one with Stubbs and Ashutosh, and another with one other guy (Vipraj Nigam). I believe he (Nigam) played exceptionally well and took the game away from us. There was enough assistance for the bowlers, but we could have executed the fundamentals better. We felt the pressure, and we are still finding our footing, but there are many positives to take from this match," Pant stated.

Pant should not be criticized for his inability to remember Vipraj's name. The 20-year-old talent gained recognition through his outstanding performances in the UP T20 League, which led to his debut in all formats for Uttar Pradesh last year, followed by his selection by LSG during the mega auction.

Vipraj Nigam made his IPL debut as a leg-spinner, claiming the wicket of Aiden Markram and nearly dismissing Nicholas Pooran, had a catch off his bowling not been missed. However, IPL fans were unaware that Vipraj possessed another skill that could significantly influence the match. After Delhi Capitals lost four wickets during the powerplay, mentor Kevin Pietersen reassured that hope was not lost, as Ashutosh Sharma and Vipraj Nigam remained available.

Both Vipraj and Ashutosh validated Pietersen's confidence. Ashutosh scored with five boundaries and five sixes in his unbeaten innings, while Vipraj contributed with five fours and two sixes. It is worth noting that Ashutosh did not start aggressively; at one point, he was 20 runs off 20 balls. It was Vipraj who initiated the offensive against the LSG bowlers, ensuring the required run rate remained attainable.

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