Rishabh Pant fulfils Digvesh Rathi's long-awaited dream

NEW DELHI: Young spinner Digvesh Singh Rathi is making waves in

IPL 2025

for two standout reasons — his impressive bowling performances and a unique action that mirrors mystery spinner Sunil Narine. Rathi delivered a composed and effective spell during

Lucknow Super Giants

' 12-run win over Mumbai Indians. His figures of 1/21 in the high-scoring clash earned him the Player of the Match award.
With Lucknow Super Giants gearing up to face

Kolkata Knight Riders

next, LSG skipper Rishabh Pant helped fulfill Rathi's dream of meeting his idol, Narine.

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In a video shared by LSG, Pant is seen walking alongside Narine during a practice session at Eden Gardens in Kolkata and introducing the two.

“The great Rathi. The great Sunil Narine,” Pant says while bringing them together.
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“Hanji.. yahi hai,” Pant tells Rathi, pointing towards Narine.
After receiving the Player of the Match award, Rathi had shared: “I saw Sunil Narine bowl, and since then I’ve loved bowling."
“I want to make my mindset more attacking, like Sunil Narine. The way he handles pressure situations, he stays calm there too. I also want to do that,” he said.
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Approximately five years ago, during open trials conducted by the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Rathi faced a pivotal moment.
After delivering a ball that was dispatched out of the ground by an established IPL player, he sought a replacement ball but was instead sidelined for the remainder of the trials, ultimately not making the shortlist.

Undeterred by this setback, Rathi resolved to refine his bowling skills, focusing intensely on minimizing runs conceded. He immersed himself in local club and corporate matches around Delhi-NCR, where maintaining an economical bowling rate was crucial for continued selection and match fees.
Emulating Narine, Rathi transformed his bowling style to prioritise accuracy and control, aiming to prevent boundaries and earn recognition for his disciplined approach.
This dedication bore fruit when the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) recognized his potential and included him in their squad for IPL 2025. Under the leadership of captain Rishabh Pant, Rathi has emerged as a reliable asset, delivering economical spells that have significantly contributed to the team's performance.