Low Cost, High Impact: 3 Budget Indian Players Delivering Big In IPL 2025

Digvesh Rathi (LSG - INR 30 lakh)

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)’s Digvesh Rathi has been one of the best spinners in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Playing his first IPL season, the 25-year-old has picked up nine wickets at an economy of just 7.3 - the fourth-best in the competition amongst bowlers with at least 30 overs.

The legspinner, who mostly bowls googlies and carrom balls, has gone wicketless in only two of the nine games he has played this season. Rathi has been LSG’s most-trusted bowler and has bowled a lot of crucial overs for the franchise. All this for just INR 30 lakh. Now, that’s a steal.

R Sai Kishore (GT - INR 2 crore)

R Sai Kishore has been around for quite a while now, but this is the first time that the spin-bowling all-rounder is getting enough game time. The left-armer is one of the best defensive spinners in the country and has played a key role in Gujarat Titans (GT)’s success this season. 

The 28-year-old from Tamil Nadu has picked up 12 wickets in eight games at an average of 16.3 and an economy of 8.2. He has gone wicketless in only one game. 

Devdutt Padikkal (RCB - INR 2 crore)

Devdutt Padikkal had back-to-back 400-plus seasons for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2020 and 2021 but was way below par for Rajasthan Royals (RR) and LSG in the next three seasons, averaging less than 20. The left-hander is now back at RCB and is having his best IPL season by some distance. 

Batting at No.3, Padikkal has slammed 230 runs at an average of 32.86 and a strike rate of 156.5. Never has Padikkal operated at a strike rate of more than 131 in an IPL season. In IPL 2025, Padikkal has played five important knocks and four of those have come at a strike rate of more than 168. In the remaining one game against RR, Padikkal scored 40* off 28 and took RCB past RR’s total.