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, says the former Australian opener
HYDERABAD: Former Australian opener Shane Watson says that it seems like Digvesh Rathi of Lucknow Super Giants is born to perform on this IPL stage.
“He wasn’t reserved—he was out there, beating his chest, showing confidence, and executing beautifully. 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,” Watson said in a chat with JioHotstar.
“When a bowler gets the length right, it’s tough for batters to step out or go on the back foot. 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,” Watson said.
“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,” he said.
“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. Bowling a seven-run over at such a crucial stage, with Hardik at the crease, was special,” Watson said on Shardul Thakur.
“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,” he concluded.
