From Sehwag to Narine: Did Delhi Almost Lose Its Star Spinner Digvesh Rathi?

New Delhi [India] April 16:  In the narrow lanes of Saboli in northeast Delhi, Digvesh Rathi’s family once heard the painful words — “Shift out of Delhi.” Money was tight, and dreams seemed expensive. But his family stood strong. Why should they leave their own city, just because they had no strong contacts or money? His elder brother Sunny, now a police constable, gave up his own cricket dream so that his younger brother could spin his way to the top.

Bobby and Sunny: The Bollywood-style bond

Their father called his sons Sunny and Bobby — like the old Hindi films. Behind those filmi names were real sacrifices. Sunny became the silent wall behind Digvesh’s success. When other boys refused to bowl to Digvesh in the nets, Sunny did it for hours. In return, Digvesh didn’t just become a better player, he became the hope of the family. Their home had no trophies, but a mother’s prayers and a father’s belief filled every corner.

Bat to ball: The unexpected shift

Digvesh once dreamt of hitting cover drives like Sehwag. But he was always made to wait for his chance. He realised that known names always batted first, and unknown kids like him had to sit out. So, he did something different. He switched to bowling — not ordinary bowling — but mystery spin like Sunil Narine. He copied Narine’s action, added his own style, and worked non-stop. From being ignored, he became the bowler everyone wanted to avoid.

The big break came slowly

He didn’t get success in one day. He played for smaller teams, slowly moved up in Delhi’s leagues, and caught the eye of Vijay Dahiya. That was the turning point. Dahiya invited him to train and then helped him enter the Delhi Premier League. Digvesh picked 14 wickets there and soon the IPL doors opened. This year, he is playing for Lucknow Super Giants. Not only that, he already got Player of the Match in just his fourth match.

Not just talent, it was grit

Digvesh’s story isn’t just about cricket. It’s about every boy or girl who is asked to give up. It’s about parents who stand behind their children when no one else does. It’s about saying “we will not run away.” From local grounds to IPL stadiums, Digvesh Rathi didn’t spin the ball alone — he spun a story of belief, struggle, and hard-earned success. He’s not just a cricketer now, he’s a symbol of hope for every young Indian dreamer.