IPL Breakaway Cricketer Told to ‘Leave Delhi’; Family Responds: ‘Why Should He Run?’

IPL Breakaway Cricketer Told to ‘Leave Delhi’; Family Responds: Sunil Narine-style spin-bowling and notebook celebrations are not all there is to Digvesh Rathi. The breakout spinner of IPL 2025, who has steadily made himself the rabbit in the hat for Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant, has had a privilege of standing in darkness almost every day, shadows interchangeable with hardships and challenges. His success by 'struggling afar' is more like a celuloid story. After elder son 'Sunny' entered their lives, the father 'Dharmender' named Junior 'Bobby', a Bollywood touch was unavoidable.

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Sunny made vivid some of the harshest times during their struggles as a family, ones that included eviction from Delhi. The two, Sunny and Digvesh, opened up about their troubles and resilience inside their frugal abode in Saboli, Northeast Delhi, some of which proved paramount in shaping the career of the IPL 2025 breakout spinner. One sacrifice that Sunny, once a promising left-arm spinner, made on behalf of Digvesh and their family recounts the pressure they all were subjected to in leaving Delhi due to lack of funds but also political clout.

“Digvesh had no godfather, we had no money or influence. We were advised to move out of Delhi. Par bhag kyun jaye (but why would we run away)?” Sunny, currently a police constable at Mandoli Prison Complex, for his brother's courage, shared with The Indian Express.

The trials he faced provided enough opportunity for Digvesh, also called Bobby in the family, to showcase his talents for the Lucknow Super Giants. Picked for ₹30 lakh, the 25-year-old mystery spinner-to-be made an impression in his first IPL season, garnering the Player of the Match award versus Mumbai Indians after striking key figures of 1/21 in a high-scoring game. Sunny also showcased Digvesh's hard work: He trained honestly at Poorvi Delhi Khel Parisar, where he transformed from a conventional batsman with a Sehwag-like cover drive into a bowler conjured by the likes of Sunil Narine. “He’s here because of his sheer hard work,” Sunny emphasized.

Digvesh's father supported his ambition since childhood despite financial problems and other setbacks. Both were correct- his mother, Manju, expressed her reserved faith by advising him to remain sane during success.

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From Sehwag-like batter to Narine-like spinner

Digvesh was basically a batsman in his early days. Still, he encountered resistance while going to the nets; once again, the more established names from better-run academies seemed to have the first hand in making a choice for a good net. So, watching all this in frustration, Digvesh decided to switch to bowling altogether. He looked up to Narine's unusual action and his success in the IPL with KKR. Digvesh copied the action and commenced bowling leg spin.

“When it was Digvesh’s turn to bat, most of the good bowlers were disinterested in bowling because he wasn’t a known name. When he played good strokes against them, their ego was hurt too. Players brought their own cricket balls, so they didn’t want to waste it on him. I would bowl to him for hours but facing only one bowler limits a batsman,” Sunny.

Digvesh used to practice daily for it, and some groundsmen and friends even used to open their grounds for him, but his brother trained as wicketkeeper whenever the nets were accessible. Things started to take a turn southwards when, after playing for different Delhi levels, he attracted the former India keeper-batsman Vijay Dahiya's attention, and Dahiya invited him to join his academy. Then the Delhi Premier League happened, where Digvesh picked up 14 wickets for South Delhi Superstarz.

With that, the gates opened to IPL. Dahiya once again anchored the recommendation of his name to the LSG management.

In this IPL, Digvesh has already taken nine wickets in seven matches, with an economy rate of 7.43.

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