Rathi, Narine’s spin twin, thrives on his love for bowling and it's paying off

Digvesh Rathi has quickly become one of the most talked-about names in IPL 2025—not just for his on-field skills but also for his unmistakable style. With hair like Imran Tahir, a run-up reminiscent of Sunil Narine, and Kesrick Williams' signature notebook celebration, he's been an entertaining presence for the Lucknow Super Giants. But beyond the quirks and comparisons, Rathi has shown he's got the substance to match the flair. In Friday night’s clash against Mumbai Indians, when every other LSG bowler went for over ten an over, Rathi stood out with figures of 1 for 21 in four overs, playing a key role in defending a total of 203. In four games so far, he’s gone for more than eight an over just once and has picked up six wickets at a tidy economy rate of 7.62.

After his Player of the Match performance, Rathi credited his inspiration to Sunil Narine, saying he fell in love with bowling after watching Narine and aspires to stay calm and be as attacking as his idol. That attacking mindset has been backed by control and discipline. Data from ESPNcricinfo reveals that of the 96 deliveries he's bowled in the tournament, 80 have landed on a good length or just short, with minimal use of full or short deliveries. His precision was on display against MI, where he bowled 19 balls in that ideal length range, conceded few runs, and eventually dismissed the dangerous Naman Dhir with a clever carrom ball. Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar praised Rathi for reading the pitch well and sticking to his strengths, noting both his skill and temperament as key assets.

LSG head coach Justin Langer was full of admiration for Rathi’s relentless work ethic, describing him as someone who would bowl for 16 hours a day if given the chance. According to Langer, Rathi bowls everywhere—at breakfast, in hotel corridors, even in the shower—simply because he loves it. That love for the game is what drew LSG to him after his performances in the Delhi Premier League, where he took 14 wickets in 10 matches. Picked up at his base price of INR 30 lakh at the IPL auction, Rathi impressed during the team’s practice games and has made the most of his opportunity on the big stage.

His next test comes in Kolkata, where LSG face KKR, the team featuring his idols Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. Langer is particularly excited about this face-off, calling it a must-watch moment, as Rathi not only models his bowling style after Narine but also shares a deep admiration for him. However, there’s a bit of a shadow hanging over his journey. Rathi has already been fined twice for his notebook celebration—once for making physical contact with PBKS’ Priyansh Arya and once again after the MI game, though no contact was made. He now has three demerit points, and one more will earn him a one-match suspension.

Still, his teammates are rallying behind him. Shardul Thakur, who bowled a key 19th over against MI, believes that characters like Rathi are essential for the game. He called Rathi a phenomenal bowler who expresses himself fully, and said that’s exactly the kind of energy and confidence the team needs. For now, Rathi’s mix of skill, swagger, and sheer love for bowling is making him one of the IPL’s most exciting new stories.

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