Digvesh Rathi: From Club Matches To Being LSG's 'Go-To' Man, The Inspirational Journey

During domestic cricket season, Vijay Dahiya lives out of suitcase hopping from one Indian city to another fulfilling his broadcast commitments. But if he happens to be in Delhi during summer months, the former India keeper-batter would be watching Hot Weather club cricket at some ground and that's how he first discovered a gangly leg-break bowler -- Digvesh Singh Rathi with a high-arm action. It is learnt that once Dahiya saw Rathi bowling at the Jamia Milia Islamia University ground (where Delhi had played a number of Ranji Trophy games), he spoke to Ayush Badoni, who was also playing that particular club game.

"Ayush, this boy would play IPL in next couple of years," Dahiya didn't mind being a soothsayer during his conversation with Badoni, who was already with LSG back then.

On Friday night, Dahiya, whose eye for spotting talent has been unquestionable, must have felt chuffed watching Rathi stop a star-studded Mumbai Indians on their tracks with figures of 1 for 21.

It included eight dot balls and a beautiful googly to send in-form Naman Dhir back.

It has not been a smooth ride for Digvesh, who turned 25 last December, as he had to deal with the fickle selection policies of Delhi cricket.

Hailing from Sushila Garden located in North East Delhi's Seemapuri area, Digvesh was picked for Delhi U-23 squad back in 2018-19 season but didn't get to play a single game.

He was dropped the following season and then there was no trace of him till the 2022-23 season when the BCCI had changed the U-23 competition to U-25 and Rathi played 10 games across red and white ball formats for Delhi.

This season post his Delhi Premier League (DPL) success, Rathi played two Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 games against Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur and