LSG's mystery spinner Digvesh Rathi has caught everyone's attention in IPL 2025 with his frugal bowling and extravagant celebrations. In seven matches, he has picked up nine wickets at an economy rate of 7.42 and has been penalised twice for his "notebook" celebration. In an interview with Fazal Khan, Rathi spoke about his experiences and the game. Excerpts:
How did you start playing cricket and what inspired you to take up leg spin?
I started off as a batsman but there were very few opportunities for me. When I would warm up or bowl to senior batsmen, I learnt a lot by watching Sunil Narine's bowling. I tried those techniques in the nets and learnt new things there.
Where did you learn your basics?
No one taught me. I didn't do basic bowling, I liked doing mystery bowling because it was new to the world, and I enjoyed bowling and watching it. I used to bat, but when I bowled in the nets, I found great joy in beating batsmen with mystery balls. I played at a complex in Dilshad Garden, where a senior mate Robin Bisht told me to focus on bowling, saying I was meant to be a bowler, not a batsman. That's when I started bowling.
Are you happy that the coaches did not try to change your unique bowling action?
No one ever motivated me. Everyone said this mystery spin bowling wouldn't work, and that I should give it up and just do regular spin, and that I should play in the Ranji Trophy. All my coaches said I should bowl off-spin, but I didn't like it. Cricket in Delhi is so fast-paced that if you bowl off-spin, you can only bowl 2-3 overs at the most. After that, batsmen just target the off-spinner, regardless of the ground size or pitch conditions, and hit sixes.
How useful has the Delhi Premier League been in your development and attracting the IPL talent hunters?
It's not just for me but for all the cricketers in Delhi. Many cricketers play well, and for them, the Delhi Premier League (DPL) is a platform to show the world that if they're not able to play domestic cricket from Delhi for some reason, they can perform well in the DPL and catch the attention of IPL franchises. I took 14 wickets in DPL. I felt I should have taken more.
How did you feel when you claimed Sunil Narine's wicket?
Taking Sunil Narine's wicket was a special moment in my life. I was supposed to bowl in the power play, but in that match, I didn't get the chance. I had prepared a strategic setup for Narine because he bats exceptionally well. My plan was to get him out in the power play, but when I didn't get to bowl then, I felt it would be easier to dismiss him later as the field was open, giving me more space to work with. I really admire his bowling, although he is also a great batsman.
How do you look at your future?
I just want to keep doing what I'm currently doing. I love learning new things. I enjoy living in the present moment. I don't even like watching past matches. I don't enjoy social media or Instagram either. I just want to excel in the current match and perform well for my team.
When you took Punjab Kings batter Priyansh Arya's wicket, the celebration was aggressive. What were the strategies against him?
When I dismissed Priyansh, I knew he was experienced enough that if I bowled to him the way I usually did, I might not have been able to get him out. That's why, a day before, I spent about an hour on the ground with coach Justin Langer and Vijay Dahiya sir, and then I developed a new variation because I knew Priyansh was well aware of my googly and would read it and undoubtedly score a century. He is a highly talented player. I developed a new variation — one ball would swing out, and another would be a googly — and that's how I got him out.
Which techniques made your bowling different? Do you learn from others?
Regarding mystery bowling, if you ask anyone, they'll likely say they don't know much about it. Mystery spinners often discuss these things among themselves. I talked to Mujeeb during the Mumbai Indians match, and he thinks the way I do. Last year, when I was a net bowler for KKR, I spoke to Varun Chakravarthy, and he thinks similarly. I believe all mystery spinners think this way.
What factors motivated you and elevated your morale?
When I first met Zaheer sir, he inspired me. He said I'll be the main bowler of the team. I don't think there's anything bigger for a new player joining a team, especially when ‘Ravi bhai' plays for India. Anyone would assume I'm a secondary spinner, but he motivated me which was extremely important to me.