The Next Spin Sensation? Meet the Mystery Spinner with Team India Ambitions
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Digvesh Rathi, a ‘mystery spinner’ known for hiding the ball before release to deceive batters, is rapidly emerging as one of the most exciting young talents in Indian cricket. Born on December 15, 1999, in Delhi, he first caught attention during the inaugural Delhi Premier League (DPL) in 2024, where he picked up 14 wickets with an impressive economy rate of 7.82. His remarkable performance earned him a place in the IPL 2025 auction, where Lucknow Super Giants signed him for his base price of ₹30 lakh.
Rathi carried his form into the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025, delivering with exceptional control. In just two matches, he maintained an astonishing economy rate of 2.71 while taking three crucial wickets, becoming the most economical bowler to play multiple games. Interestingly, Rathi initially wanted to become a batsman but turned to spin bowling due to lack of batting practice opportunities. Inspired by West Indies legend Sunil Narine, Rathi’s bowling action closely resembles his idol’s, making him even tougher to read.
His cricket journey has been far from easy. Despite being selected for Delhi U-23 in 2018-19, he didn’t get a single game and was later dropped. However, a change in BCCI age-group format to U-25 gave him a second chance, and he made the most of it, performing well in both red-ball and white-ball formats.
In IPL 2025, Rathi impressed for Lucknow Super Giants, taking 14 wickets in 13 matches at an economy of 8.25. He even made headlines for his quirky ‘notebook celebration,’ which led to a one-match suspension. In June 2025, he created another sensation in a local match by taking five wickets in just five balls, finishing with a total of seven wickets in that game.
Apart from being a smart spinner, Rathi is also an agile fielder with remarkable energy on the field. His fitness and stamina allow him to bowl long spells, a rare and valuable trait for a spinner. Fans believe that if he continues his form in IPL 2026, a call-up to Team India might not be far away.