IPL 2025: Digvesh Rathi plays with fire, Pooran lights it up for Lucknow

Dubai: Digvesh Rathi doesn’t just take wickets — he marks them. Seconds after knocking over Sunil Narine, his childhood idol, the young Lucknow spinner dropped to the turf and scribbled on the pitch, as if writing his name into IPL folklore. It was his seventh wicket in five games, and perhaps his boldest yet.

The 25-year-old Delhi spinner is fast becoming one of the breakout stars of IPL Season 18, combining fearless bowling with a flair for the dramatic. His latest act helped Lucknow Super Giants clinch a thrilling four-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders in a high-scoring contest.

After being named Player of the Match in Lucknow’s previous outing against Mumbai Indians, Rathi reflected on the influence of the very man he dismissed.

“I am really enjoying it. My bowling is such that I like to take wickets,” he told the official broadcasters. “I saw Sunil Narine bowl and since then I like bowling. I want to make my mindset more attacking like Sunil Narine — like he handles pressure for the team and still remains calm. I want to be the same.”

While he survived the fire against Narine, Rathi might be in trouble off the field. His turf-scribbling celebration comes on the heels of a notebook send-off to Priyansh Arya in the game against Punjab Kings and a 50 per cent fine for inappropriate language against Mumbai. A third straight offence could invite stronger disciplinary action from the Indian board.

Chasing a steep target of 239, Kolkata Knight Riders came close. Narine gave the chase a brisk start with a 13-ball 30, while skipper Ajinkya Rahane struck 61 off 35 balls. Rinku Singh’s unbeaten 38 kept hopes alive in a tense final phase, but the hosts fell short at 234-7.

Shardul Thakur and Akash Deep turned the tide for Lucknow, taking two wickets each and triggering a collapse in the middle overs. KKR lost four wickets in 16 balls — a stretch that included Thakur removing Rahane and Andre Russell (7), while Deep ended Venkatesh Iyer’s knock on 45.

Earlier, explosive half-centuries from Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran powered Lucknow to 238-3. Marsh cracked 81 — his fourth fifty of the season — and Pooran followed up with a brutal unbeaten 87 off just 36 balls. The pair built on a 99-run opening stand between Marsh and Aiden Markram, who contributed 47.

Lucknow skipper Rishabh Pant did not bat and is still awaiting a statement performance to justify his record $3.21 million auction price.

Lucknow now have three wins from five matches. Kolkata, the defending champions, have lost three of their first five.

— With inputs from AFP