Follow UsDigvijay Deshmukh’s rise to fame is incredible.
While most cricketers make a career out of the sport and then make their cinematic debut, the 27-year-old had the exact opposite path to fame. Digvijay was just 14 when his world was turned upside down after he landed the role of Ali Hashmi, a child cricketer in the Bollywood film Kai Po Che!
Scouted after a standout performance at the Under-14 school nationals, he auditioned reluctantly. “I wasn’t interested in acting. My family also felt movies weren’t for me, but I eventually took up the role,” Digvijay recalled in a Cricket.com exclusive.
When the film was released, he gained recognition but shied away from the spotlight, focusing solely on cricket. “People asked if I was in a movie, but I avoided it. I only wanted to be a cricketer.”
From thereon, it took the all-rounder six years: from making his professional debut for Maharashtra as a pace bowler to representing Mumbai Indians at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, to change people’s perception of him.
Digvijay’s cricketing journey was anything but conventional. Starting as a wicketkeeper until Under-16, he dabbled in various bowling styles—leg-spin, left-arm spin, and off-spin—before discovering his true calling as a pace bowler in Under-19.
“I was a keeper in the past. I was a keeper till U-16. Then I bowled leg spin, left arm spin, and off spin. I did everything. It was only in my U-19 days that my pace started increasing due to my strength, and that’s when I used to copy Shoaib Akhtar’s bowling action,” Digvijay revealed.
It wasn’t until he was 21 that life turned around briefly for the all-rounder, when five-time IPL champions scouted him both at the Under-23 tournament and later, at a clash in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) where he picked up the crucial scalp of Ambati Rayudu.
Across his seven appearances at SMAT in the 2019 season, the all-rounder impressed both Kiran More and John Wright, with nine wickets, averaging 28.7 with the ball, and more importantly, picking up a 3/34 against Punjab, where his yorkers were the talk of the town.
“John Wright spotted me and asked me to come for trials, and from thereon, MI ended up picking me. It was a memorable experience in the dressing room to see both Sachin [Tendulkar] and Zaheer [Khan] in flesh. They don’t complicate things, they keep it very simple.”
“I used to copy Sachin's batting style back when I was a kid. I used to watch the World Cup 2011 for three cricketers - Sehwag, Sachin and Zaheer. I loved watching them, and when I was in MI’s dressing room, it was a dream-come-true moment for me.”
Despite the high of his IPL stint, Digvijay faced challenges securing a consistent spot in Maharashtra’s domestic side, for reasons he doesn’t fully understand. The 2024 MPL season with Eagle Nashik Titans was a mixed bag, adding pressure to his career.
“Last year, I was concerned about injuries and couldn’t perform,” he admitted. The struggles led to self-doubt, with thoughts of retirement creeping in.
“I was disappointed. I felt I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to. Retirement crossed my mind,” he confessed. However, his family’s unwavering support kept him grounded. “Even if I don’t succeed, I know they’ll back me. Cricket can change in a year.”
The off-season after MPL 2024 proved to be a turning point. Digvijay dedicated three months to refining his bowling technique and fitness, working tirelessly even in the rain, including a stint at Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), where he reunited with Zaheer.
“After the MPL [2024], it was a big off-season for me. I was off for 3 months. I worked a lot on bowling and technique in the rain. Gradually, things started getting better. Then I was called to LSG, where I worked with Zaheer sir again. I got a chance to express myself there,” he added.
“The main priority in the off-season was to stay fit. I wanted to bowl fast. I spent a lot of time on every action, move and run-up. As I played more matches, my confidence built up. I can focus on the game now. Earlier, I was afraid that something might happen to the knee or ankle. I played with that fear.”
With renewed vigour, Digvijay is now focused on leading Eagle Nashik Titans to the MPL 2025 title, determined to overcome their 2024 shortfall. “Team bonding is our strength. A good environment off the field translates to performance on it,” he said.
So, who are some of the players to watch out for from the Titans’ 2025 setup? Apart from a rejuvenated Digvijay, the 27-year-old also asked everyone to keep an eye out for the stylish southpaw Sahil Parikh, who showed a great teaser in the 2024 season. Not to forget the other flamboyant all-rounder, Arshin Kulkarni.
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12 years on from the sets of Kai Po Che, there’s one regret in Digvijay’s life. Just after the movie release, Digvijay had made a promise to himself that he wouldn’t meet his co-star and elder brother-like Sushant Singh Rajput, till he became a top-level cricketer.
In 2020, when he did get picked by MI, Digvijay all but made up his mind to meet the actor. However, the unfortunate circumstances then, due to COVID-19, ensured that there was a complete lockdown in the country, and Sushant’s untimely demise meant that he could never fulfil his promise.
“I still regret not meeting him. Since then, I have decided that I will never make such promises. I will let life as it happens.”
At 27, Digvijay stands at a crossroads. With his injuries behind him and a renewed sense of purpose, he’s ready to make his mark. A strong 2025 MPL season with Eagle Nashik Titans could propel him back onto Maharashtra’s cricketing radar and beyond. Somewhere, Sushant would be smiling, proud of the cricketer Digvijay has become.