Digvesh Singh Rathi’s ability to consistently hit an immaculate length with subtle variations, like the off-break and carrom ball, makes him a dangerous bowler, feels former Australia white-ball great Shane Watson.

The 25-year-old rookie Delhi leg-spinner is the break-out star this IPL season for Lucknow Super Giants. He has already taken six wickets at an economy rate of 7.62, with his skipper, Rishabh Pant, completing his quota in all four games.

“It seems like he was born to perform on this IPL stage. He wasn’t reserved; he was out there, beating his chest, showing confidence and executing beautifully,” Watson told JioHotstar after LSG defeated Mumbai Indians by 12 runs and Rathi got the ‘Player of The Match’ award for his 1 for 21 in four overs which included eight dot balls.

Rathi brought LSG back into the game when Naman Dhir (46 off 24 balls) was looking ominous. He breached Dhir’s defence with a carrom ball delivery that turned like an off-break.

“What stands out about Digvesh is how simple he keeps his game. He runs in, uses his variations — the carrom ball and off-spinner — but his control over length is what makes him so dangerous. When a bowler gets the length right, it’s tough for batters to step out or go on the back foot,” Watson explained.

“To think that in a high-scoring game, where nearly 200 runs were posted, he conceded just 21 runs in his four overs, that’s something very, very special.”

Rathi mentioned that his passion for spin bowling grew watching Sunil Narine bowl.

Watson also found shades of Narine in the Delhi lad who sports a flowing mane.

“It’s the kind of impact we usually see from Sunil Narine. That’s why he was the Man of the Match. Performances like this don’t happen often. But that’s the beauty of the IPL. Every season, new talents like Digvesh burst onto the scene and showcase their incredible skills.”

Watson was all praise for Shardul Thakur, whose crucial 19th over, in which he conceded only seven runs, made it easier for Avesh Khan to defend 22 runs in the final over.

“Shardul executed brilliantly. He knew he had to commit to his yorker. Typically, bowlers rely on changes of pace early on, but that just wasn’t working tonight. So, he focused on nailing his yorkers, especially against an in-form Hardik Pandya.”

The performance would be a morale booster for Shardul, who wasn’t originally picked by any franchise, said Watson.

“Bowling a seven-run over at such a crucial stage, with Hardik at the crease, was special. That’s a big confidence booster for him. Given that Shardul went unsold in the auction and then got picked up as a free agent, you can see how determined he is to prove himself. He’s now delivered two strong performances, and this one played a major role in LSG getting over the line.”

Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant was all praise for his team after its all-round performance in the 12-run victory over Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League match in Lucknow on Friday.

He was particularly lavish on Mitchell Marsh, Shardul Thakur and young Digvesh Singh Rathi.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Pant acknowledged that the team is gradually finding the right rhythm and adapting to the conditions on offer.

“One thing sure is that the wicket is playing really well; we need to figure out what’s working for us and what is not. Very simple! Before we wanted a different kind of wicket, but whatever is offered to us we will take it and play,” he said, highlighting the team’s flexibility in approach.

Marsh provided the early impetus with a blistering knock off 60 off 31 deliveries, which included nine boundaries and two sixes. Alongside Aiden Markram, he stitched a powerful opening stand of 76 runs, setting the tone for the chase.

“When a player like Mitch [Mitchell] Marsh gives us a start like that, it gives time to the middle-order. That’s the idea. We want to play according to the situation; the kind of start we got, it put us in a good state,” Pant noted.

He lauded his team for staying composed under pressure despite strong resistance from Mumbai Indians.

“Mentally, it was tough for all of us. They were not losing too many wickets; kudos to them, but we held our nerve and finished it off.”

Shardul Thakur, entrusted with the crucial 19th over, conceded just seven runs and played a key role in closing out the game.

“He is amazing for us; now I can say that he has been an amazing pick. We need to back him,” Pant said, expressing confidence in the experienced all-rounder.

Youngster Digvesh Singh Rathi continued to impress, returning economical figures of 1 for 21 and earning the ‘Player of the Match’ award.

He lauded the rising star, saying, “He is one of our leading bowlers; the way he is holding his nerve… good to see a youngster perform like that.”

Venkatesh Iyer silenced his critics with a blistering match-winning knock of 60 off 29 balls, propelling Kolkata Knight Riders to a convincing 80-run win against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2025 match on Thursday.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s classy 50 (32 balls) in an 81-run stand with skipper Ajinkya Rahane (38) laid the foundation, while Iyer and Rinku Singh (32 not out) provided the late fireworks with a blistering 91-run partnership from 41 balls to lift KKR to 200/6 — their highest total of the season.

Seamer Vaibhav Arora set the tone by removing the dangerous Travis Head (4) and Ishan Kishan (2) in successive overs to return with impressive figures of 3/29 in four overs.

Harshit Rana dismissed Abhishek Sharma (2), leaving SRH reeling at 9/3 in 2.1 overs, while Andre Russell and Sunil Narine also chipped in with a wicket each to make it 66/5 inside 10 overs.

Varun Chakravarthy then cleaned up the lower order taking two wickets in two balls en route to his 4-0-22-3 as SRH crumbled to 120 all out — their explosive batting lineup lasting just 16.4 overs.

The defending champions thus returned to winning ways after losing two of their first three matches and will next face Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, SRH, enduring their third straight defeat, head home to take on Gujarat Titans on Sunday.

After being reduced to 9/3 in 2.1 overs, Nitish Reddy (19) counterattacked Arora with two fours and a six, while Kamindu Mendis (27 off 20 balls) lifted hopes by taking on Andre Russell with a pick-up shot over deep square leg.

But Russell struck back to remove Reddy before Sunil Narine (1/30) accounted for Mendis in the 10th over, reducing SRH to 66/5 at the halfway mark and effectively ending their chase.

Earlier, KKR’s new-look opening pair continued to struggle, with Quinton de Kock (1) and Narine (7) once again falling cheaply after Pat Cummins opted to bowl first.

Rahane and Raghuvanshi steadied the innings, countering early movement with intelligent shot selection. 

The KKR skipper’s back-to-back pull-shot sixes off Shami and Cummins broke the shackles, as KKR reached 53/2 after the Powerplay.

Raghuvanshi showcased his stroke-making prowess with exquisite drives and a stunning reverse hit past backward point, reaching his fifty in 30 balls.

Zeeshan Ansari (1/25) eventually ended the partnership, dismissing Rahane in the same over Raghuvanshi was dropped on 43.

However, the youngster didn’t last long, falling to a stunning forward-diving catch off IPl debutant Kamindu Mendis.

Mendis, making his IPL debut, bowled left-arm spin to right-hander Raghuvanshi before switching to off-spin against the left-handed Rinku Singh in the same over, a rare sight in the competition.

The boundaries dried up for 16 balls before Iyer, KKR’s costliest player this season (Rs 23.75 crore), broke the shackles with a desperate pull off a Simarjeet Singh beamer.

Rinku followed with three successive boundaries off Harshal Patel before Iyer tore into Simarjeet, hammering him for consecutive fours.

Rinku finished the over with a towering six over long-on, yielding 17 runs, while Iyer went berserk against Cummins in the 19th over, smashing him for 4, 6, 4, 4 in succession as KKR amassed 78 runs in the last five overs.

Cummins’ reluctance to use spin despite variable bounce raised eyebrows. Mendis (1/4) wasn’t given another over after his crucial breakthrough, while Ansari bowled just three overs (1/25).

Instead, Cummins trusted his pace attack, which failed to contain Iyer and Rinku in the death overs.