Kashi Rudras put up a strong performance to beat Lucknow Falcons by 19 runs in a thrilling match. Kashi Rudras Batted first, they scored Rudras 187/4 in 20 overs. Captain Karan Sharma played brilliantly 71 runs in 44 balls, hitting seven fours and three sixes. At the top, Deepak Rana played a steady hand with 46 runs from 43 balls.

Anchoring the innings the Samarth way!

Watch live on SonyLIV and Sony Sports Network. #UPT20League #ANAXUPT20League #KhiladiYahanBantaHai #KRvsLF pic.twitter.com/xJAY19l2bW

— UP T20 League (@t20uttarpradesh) August 24, 2025

Towards the end, Saksham Rai scored a quick 26 runs in 14 balls, while Shubham Chaubey stayed not out on 16 runs in 10 balls, giving the team a strong finish for Rudras. For Lucknow, Vipraj Nigam bowled well and took 2 crucial wickets, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Akshu Bajwa took one wicket each.

Atal pockets a 3-for! Always a reliable bowling attack for Kashi.

Watch live on SonyLIV and Sony Sports Network. #UPT20League #ANAXUPT20League #KhiladiYahanBantaHai #KRvsLF pic.twitter.com/wOj1m9w5he

— UP T20 League (@t20uttarpradesh) August 24, 2025

Chasing 188 runs, Lucknow Falcons tried hard but kept losing wickets. Samarth Singh batted well for 47 runs in 35 balls, and Priyam Garg contributed well with him scored 32 runs from 27 runs. In the middle order, Mohammad Saif played a quick knock of 26 runs in 15 balls, while Kritagya Singh hit a fiery 28 from 15 balls, keeping Falcons in the game. But the pressure for the batting team. They ended with 168 wickets in 7 wickets in their 20 overs, falling short by 19 runs.

ALSO READ: “Birmingham Phoenix Ne Manchester Originals Ki Umeedon Par Laga Di Rok, 7 Wickets Se Jeet Kar Machaya Hungama!”- Fans were happy as Birmingham Phoenix win over against Manchester Originals by 7 Wickets

For Rudras, Atal Bihari Vipin Rai waso ne of the key bowlers, taking 3 wickets for 32 runs. Shiva Singh bowled a tight spell, finishing with 2 wickets for just 18 runs, while Shivam Mavi and Sunil Kumar got one wicket each. It was a complete team effort from Kashi Rudras solid batting at the top and disciplined bowling at the end made the difference. Lucknow Falcons had their moments but could not finish the job

The Match 15 of the Uttar Pradesh Premier League (UP T20) 2025  has Kashi Rudras taking on Lucknow Falcons. The match is set to start at 2:00 PM at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. The Lucknow Falcons are in the middle of the table with two wins and two losses after four games. Facing a seven-wicket loss against Gaur Gorakhpur Lions, Lucknow is looking to win this match to generate some momentum with four points and a net run rate of +0.253.

See Also: Top 5 fastest ODI centuries for Australia ft. Cameron Green

Kashi Rudras has been the best team in the tournament so far, remaining undefeated with four wins in four games. Their captain, Karan Sharma has led the side to powerful victories, most recently a massive 91-run win over Meerut Mavericks. Kashi will look to continue their winning ways, and with eight points and a net run rate of +3.163, Kashi can firmly position themselves at the top of the table.

Kashi Rudras vs Lucknow Falcons, Match 15: Live Streaming Details

Kashi Rudras vs Lucknow Falcons, Match 15: Probable Playing XI

Kashi Rudras (Playing XI)

Abhishek Goswami, Karan Sharma(c), Uvais Ahmad, Upendra Yadav(w), Yashovardhan Singh, Shubham Chaubey, Atal Bihari, Shivam Mavi, Shiva Singh, Kartik Yadav, Sunil Kumar

Lucknow Falcons (Playing 11)

Samarth Singh, Priyam Garg, Aaradhya Yadav (wk), Mohammad Saif, Sameer Choudhary, Vipraj Nigam (c), Kritagya Singh, Parv Singh, Akshat Pandey, Akshu Bajwa, Kishan Kumar Singh

The young leg spinner of the Delhi Capitals, Vipraj Nigam, was around some of the global superstars in the dressing room during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. And one of them was KL Rahul, the current Indian opening batter, who came into the franchise in the recent season, shifting his base from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

Vipraj, during a recent conversation with CricXtasy, revealed that KL Rahul was an incredible human being off the field. He looked back at the special knock of the Karnataka-born when he smashed an unbeaten 93 runs in 53 balls to carry them over the line and dropped a savage celebration.

See Also: No Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for ODI World Cup 2027? BCCI to have honest conversation

“Perfect player, especially the innings in Bengaluru and the way he celebrated. He scored a century in Delhi. If you see the entire IPL, in every single IPL game, he would play such shots that seemed to be going on repeat. As a human being, he was very normal, like speaking to us and sitting with us. It never felt like you were sitting with KL Rahul. It never felt like that, whether at the dinner table or breakfast.” Nigam expressed during the podcast.

Watch: Vipraj Nigam describes KL Rahul’s nature during IPL 2025

The 21-year-old leg spinner, who picked up 11 wickets and thumped 142 runs at a strike rate of 179.14, looked back at the moment when Rahul gave him and his friends special treatment while clicking a few pictures with them.

The way Vipraj Nigam described KL Rahul's nature in this interview proves why so many people admire KL Rahul so much as a player and a human being. ❤️🥺🫶pic.twitter.com/WXCFgnk0u7

— KLR (@KLRNation1) August 6, 2025

“In Delhi, a few of my friends came, who insisted on clicking a few photos with KL bhai. So I hesitated to speak it straightaway. Then I texted him on WhatsApp if he could take time and click a few pictures. And he asked me to come to the breakfast table. So, everyone went there and clicked the pictures.” Vipraj Nigam added to the podcast.

A few reports have claimed that Rahul could shift his IPL base from Delhi for the next IPL season. It has been revealed that the Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings are in discussions with the veteran. He had a fantastic campaign in 2025, collecting 539 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of nearly 150 with three fifties and one half-century.

Virat Kohli has been an inspiration to many players around the world, whether it is the state cricket or the national side, or even in world cricket. Many young bowlers have a dream of bowling at the Delhi-born and acquire lessons from him regarding various tactics. The Delhi Capitals’ all-rounder, Vipraj Nigam, was seen to have a conversation with Kohli during the IPL 2025.

In a recent podcast with CricXtasy, he revealed the fanboy moment with the veteran. Nigam shed light on how he didn’t even think of taking the India batter's wicket while bowling at him. He even shared the fact of how happy he was when Kohli smashed him into the stands for a huge six.

See Also: No Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for ODI World Cup 2027? BCCI to have honest conversation

‘It can be that you keep Virat bhai away. Give him one run and let me go off the strike somehow. But there is another wish of taking a chance, and if he gets dismissed. To bowl Virat Kohli is a huge dream, and you don’t think of taking his wicket. So, on the first ball, he nailed me for a six. Now, generally, when you get hit for a six on a good delivery, you don’t get happy.’ Vipraj Nigam expressed in the conversation.

[WATCH] Vipraj Nigam shares fanboy moment with Virat Kohli during IPL 2025

‘But for me, it was different in that game that at least he was smacked for a six from Virat Kohli. So no issues. No one will say anything. This was like that. Virat bhai has nailed it. If someone says something, I will say, ‘Virat bhai has hit; nothing happens!!’ On the next ball, I kept it a little away and he didn’t get the full timing.’ He addressed.

Vipraj Nigam is a proper fanboy of Virat Kohli ❤️🥹. The Smile on his face while talking about Virat kohli.

🎥:@CricXtasy pic.twitter.com/kVMKG3Ugpl

— CHIKU JI❤️💫 (@MaticKohli251) August 5, 2025

The 21-year-old leg-spinner, during his first season of the league in 2025, featured in 14 clashes and smashed 142 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of nearly 180, besides picking 11 wickets in 13 innings at an average of 32.36 and an economy rate of just over nine.

During the game in Bengaluru, Nigam picked up his dream wicket of Kohli, who looked to slog the ball outside the off stump. On 22 runs in 14 deliveries, he was caught in the hands of Mitchell Starc at a strike rate of 157.14.

The 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season ended with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, under Rajat Patidar's leadership, breaking their 18-year wait to claim their first IPL trophy. Not only did the season see impressive team efforts, but it also saw a whole new set of fresh faces showcasing some of the most thrilling young talent to leave an indelible mark on the biggest platform.

Amongst the ones who were impressed was ex-India opener and cricket commentator Aakash Chopra, who posted his uncapped XI of IPL 2025 after the completion of the tournament. Showcasing the emergence of young players, Chopra's selections featured some shining stars — top among them being 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi and 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre, who demonstrated that talent is ageless when it comes to top-level cricket.

Chopra began his XI with Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, showing respect for their work of leading their team to the IPL final. "Prabhsimran scored more than 500 runs — to put things into perspective, even Rohit Sharma has done that just once," Chopra added. He placed Vaibhav Suryavanshi at No. 3, even before CSK's promising kid Ayush Mhatre, highlighting the youngster's contribution during the season.

Vipraj Nigam Dubbed the "Find of the Tournament,"

Chopra went on to select Delhi Capitals' Vipraj Nigam as his top all-rounder in his XI. Praises his versatility, Chopra stated, "He bowls leg-spin, bowls fast, turns the ball, and scores runs in both the powerplay and middle overs. He might be the first amongst these names who plays for India."

Also Read: WATCH: Sharayu Kulkarni imitates Rishabh Pant's celebration after Smriti Mandhana dismissal in WMPL

Chopra's uncapped IPL 2025 XI are Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Naman Dhir, Vipraj Nigam, Harpreet Brar, Yash Dayal, Vijaykumar Vyshak, and Anshul Kamboj — an exciting bunch full of youthful spark and future Indian talent.

In the wake of Match 63 between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2025, the phrase “Umpire Indians” began trending on social media, as frustrated fans and analysts blamed a series of poor umpiring decisions for being a huge factor in the game. Although MI secured a great victory by 59 runs at Wankhede Stadium, the focus was more on the poor decisions that haunted the match. Among the discussion circulating among fans was the main sentiment that Delhi Capitals were victims of poor officiating. 

Two specific decisions stood out among many that night. The first was in the 13th over of DC's chase when Vipraj lofted a shot that clearly sailed over the boundary ropes yet was signaled a four by the on-field umpire. Frustrated players and fans of DC were bewildered that no TV umpire review was called. Television replays, which suggested that the ball comfortably cleared the boundary, killed DC’s momentum just when they needed a boost. 

The second questionable decision happened when Vipraj was dismissed off a delivery from Mitchell Santner that appeared to be a clear no-ball for overstepping. While Santner's foot was clearly over the line from the original camera angles shown to broadcasters, the on-field umpires chose not to refer to it as a no-ball. All this was further compounded by the fashionable disbelief of the commentators and the crowd. As if that weren’t enough, Abhishek Porel’s LBW dismissal sparked further outrage, with UltraEdge indicating a possible inside edge that wasn’t considered in the final call.

Social Media Uproar: “Umpire Indians” Becomes a Hashtag of Frustration

As soon as the game ended, fans took to Twitter and Instagram to share screenshots and clips of the poor decisions, calling them “game-defining errors.” The hashtag #UmpireIndians became a trending topic in a number of regions, with fans accusing the officiating crew of inconsistency and bias. Some fans wanted the BCCI to investigate umpiring standards and put in more strict DRS protocols.

Also Read: Virat Kohli’s Fitness Routine After Retirement Includes Pickleball?

While Mumbai stepped away with a must-have win to keep them alive in the playoff hunt, the post-match discussion has mostly centered around the umpiring controversies, not Suryakumar Yadav's brilliance or Bumrah's fiery spells. For a tournament that prides itself on excellence, the integrity of umpiring might now be the biggest talking point of the IPL.

Jaw-Dropping Moment in 17th Over

In today's super-exciting IPL clash between the Gujarat Titans and the Delhi Capitals at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, the world saw a great moment of brilliance from Jos Buttler that changed the whole game. While Prasidh Krishna's aggressive bowling was rewarded with a four-wicket haul, it was Buttler's brilliant catch behind the stumps to dismiss the young Delhi Capitals player Vipraj Nigam that really highlighted the excitement of the match.

Nigam, an exciting young leg-spin all-rounder, had shown moments of brilliance so far this season, and came in to bat for Delhi Capitals in some pressure situation, trying to build a partnership. He was certainly looking the part; however, things changed in unfortunate circumstances again, with Buttler taking a brilliant low catch. It must be noted, Buttler was not the 'official' wicketkeeper in this game for the Gujarat Titans; however he still was able to take advantage of that, and the match was in Ahmedabad.

watch video:

What a fantastic Grab by Jos butler 🔥#GTvsDC pic.twitter.com/SBrZCwmK8M

— Aniket 𝕏 (@ImAniket264) April 19, 2025

Also Read:-IPL 2025: MI vs CSK Match 38- Who will be Impact Players for today's match?

Redemption Catch That Lit Up the Stadium

Prasidh Krishna's delivery was sharp as it slightly nipped away outside off-stump. Nigam, looking to guide it through the slips, only managed a faint edge. The ball appeared to be off to the boundary just past Buttler's glove in a right-side dive. But Buttler's extraordinary agility and hand-eye coordination allowed him to launch himself sideways and take the catch; his right wing seconded his whole frame as he dove and made his glove a palming platform of support for the ball. 

On April 10, 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) played Delhi Capitals (DC) in an intense IPL match. There was a turning point when Virat Kohli was caught by leg-spinner Vipraj Nigam, and there was a mixed bag of fan reactions on social media. A typical remark captured the mood: "Saare spinners ko wicket dega tera Kohli" (Your Kohli will get his wicket off all spinners). Even though Kohli is a game legend, the last few years have exposed an increasing battle with leg-spin, particularly in the IPL.

Nigam was mostly unheard of, but he had a clean dismissal of Kohli, which adds legitimacy to the fact that leg spinners have become Achilles' heels for him. Fans took to social media with sarcasm and concern, as they pointed out that this wasn't the first time Kohli had fallen to spin bowling. A single wicket does not define a career, but it does signal deeper analysis. 

Kohli IPL Record vs. Spinners

After April 2025, Kohli has played 256 IPL matches and has scored a total of 8,168 runs at 38.90 and a strike rate of 131.9. He has been dismissed a total of 197 times, and spinners have determined a large portion of those dismissals. More specifically, he has been dismissed by

• Left-arm spinners: 57 dismissals
• Right-arm spinners: 140 dismissals

Also Read: IPL 2025: CSK vs. KKR - A Head to Head breakdown

Kohli vs. Leg Spinners: Statistical Analysis: Leg spinners, because of their ability to turn the ball away from right-handers, have also given Kohli much grief. Some of the best leg-spinners who have gotten him out on more than one occasion are

• Yuzvendra Chahal: 3 times
• Rashid Khan: 2 times
• Amit Mishra: 2–3 times
• Piyush Chawla: 2 times

With Nigam’s 2025 dismissal, the trend continues. Up to 2024, Kohli was likely dismissed by leg-spinners 20–25 times. Nigam's wicket pushes that tally higher.

Kohli’s Weakness Against Spin: Fact or Fiction?

Once dominant against spin, Kohli’s post-2022 numbers reveal a more cautious game. Data shows he attempts aggressive (150+ strike rate) shots against spin just 14% of the time, well below the league average of 25%. This defensive approach has increased his vulnerability, especially against wrist spin.

Also Read: Watch: Virat Kohli reacts to his first IPL POTM interview

At 37 years old, there are concerns about age or a change of strategy in his game. His strike rates against Kuldeep (115.09) and Chahal (120) are lower than his career average, indicating a pattern that rivals are keen to target.

Delhi Capitals won against Chennai Super Kings in the 17th match of IPL 2025. DC Batted first, and Delhi scored 183 runs. KL Rahul played a key role scoring 77 from 51 balls. He got good support from Abishek Porel, who made 33 runs, and Tristan Stubbs, who stayed not out on 24 runs.

CSK, while chasing, lost early wickets. Vipraj Nigam bowled well for Delhi and took 2 important wickets, Devon Conway and Shivam Dube. Vijay Shankar tried to keep CSK in the game with a steady knock of 69 not out from 54 balls. MS Dhoni gave CSK fans hope with a late push to score runs in the last overs, scoring 30 runs from 26 balls, including a big six and a boundary.

But the required run rate kept going up, and CSK could only reach 158/5 in 20 overs. Delhi’s win helps them move up in the points table, while CSK will look to bounce back in their next match.

ALSO READ: 'MS Dhoni is like my father' - Star CSK player expresses his gratitude to former CSK skipper

Twitter reactions after DC wins 17th match of IPL 2025

DELHI CAPITALS HUMILIATES CSK in Chennai as they win by 25 runs #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/K3R0qPILtY

— Sahil (@ShallyChauhan13) April 5, 2025

Sanjiv Goenka watching KL Rahul batting against CSK. pic.twitter.com/yut15GoHJt

— Sai Teja (@csaitheja) April 5, 2025

Takle kiran gandhi pic.twitter.com/xvflRdrgLm

— Rahul (@BeingTrickyy) April 5, 2025

Dhoni's family is here....but why? pic.twitter.com/xctHpQKFDJ

— Sagar (@sagarcasm) April 5, 2025

#CSKvsDC

This is what happens when you purchase bunch of chu***a in the auction and another set of outdated chu***s running the team🤡

Bring Conway in- then see the wonder
happen, Rachin Ravindra gonna killify the opposition, Ruturaj BETAAAAAAAA pic.twitter.com/M02CEdOb77

— Mastikhor 🤪 (@ventingout247) April 5, 2025

#CSKvsDC
Fans expectations Dhoni in
From Dhoni Reality pic.twitter.com/U7QT67IU6c

— Paapi Gudiya😎 (@epic_meme00) April 5, 2025

CSK post match discussion after today’s defeat against DC pic.twitter.com/TaD86JxouS

— Shubh (@kadaipaneeeer) April 5, 2025

CSK - boyss relaxx, we lost just by 25 runs🥳#CSKvsDC #CSKvDC pic.twitter.com/KOja6jDd1S

— Banty 🐦‍🔥 (@ursbanty) April 5, 2025

THE CHEPAUK HAS FALLEN.🥲 #CSKvDC #DCvCSK pic.twitter.com/dWOsQnQsj4

— Fukkard (@Fukkard) April 5, 2025

This meme never gets old 😂

Bisleri Raj #CSKvsDC pic.twitter.com/N1JK91eFc1

— TonyStark 🀄 (@90Jarvis) April 5, 2025

ABSOLUTE TRASH FIELDING
ABSOLUTE TRASH BOWLING

TRASH TRASH TRASH #CSKvDC pic.twitter.com/Q5kVIH99u3

— aman (@bilateral_bully) April 5, 2025

DC's Master plan with Vijay shankar 🤣🤣#CSKvsDCpic.twitter.com/RSlruNx1pb

— Harry (@Just_Harryy_) April 5, 2025

Vipraj Nigam Impresses on IPL Debut for Delhi Capitals Vipraj Nigam made his debut memorable debut in IPL 2025, playing for Delhi Capitals against Lucknow Super Giants at the Vizag Stadium. The young leg-spinner from Uttar Pradesh grabbed attention with his all-round performance, doing well with both bat and ball. He gave Delhi an early breakthrough by dismissing Aiden Markram. Later, he showed his batting skills by fighting hard and keeping DC’s hopes alive.

After the match, Kuldeep Yadav praised him. "Vipraj was a batter during his Under-19 days but later started bowling leg-spin. He understands his batting well and plays fearless shots. He has been working hard on his bowling and is turning the ball nicely," Kuldeep said. "

VIPRAJ NIGAM - THE 20 YEAR OLD SUPERSTAR FOR DELHI CAPITALS. 🫡

- 39 (15) on debut for DC in a 206 run chase. One of the finest striking by Vipraj, a knock to remember. pic.twitter.com/wbiKeuWHcx

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 24, 2025

He is a very talented player. He did well in the UP Premier League and also performed well in the Ranji Trophy. His big hitting surprised me, I hadn’t seen him bat like this before. I believe he has a bright future ahead," he added. Who is Vipraj Nigam? Vipraj Nigam is a promising leg-spinner from Uttar Pradesh. He played very well in the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, taking eight wickets in seven matches.

ALSO READ: Watch: Ashutosh Hits a Six, and the DC Team Can’t Believe It

He showed his batting skills and brutal power by smashing 27 runs in eight balls in a match against Andhra Pradesh. Before IPL 2025, he impressed in a Delhi Capitals practice match, scoring 54 off 29 balls with seven boundaries and two sixes. His performances earned him a ₹50 lakh contract in the IPL 2025 mega auction.