During the IPL 2025 match between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on May 19 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, LSG spinner Digvesh Singh Rathi was involved in an on-field altercation with SRH opener Abhishek Sharma. After dismissing Sharma in the eighth over, Digvesh Rathi celebrated with his trademark ‘notebook’ gesture, which led to a verbal exchange between the two players. The situation escalated, requiring intervention from umpires and fellow players to restore order.
Disciplinary Actions
As a result of this incident, Rathi received two demerit points and was fined 50% of his match fees. This marked his third Level 1 breach of the IPL Code of Conduct this season, bringing his total demerit points to five. According to IPL regulations, accumulating five demerit points results in a one-match suspension. Consequently, Rathi will miss LSG’s upcoming match against Gujarat Titans on May 22 in Ahmedabad.
Abhishek Sharma was also penalized for his role in the altercation. He received one demerit point and was fined 25% of his match fees. This was Sharma’s first offense under the IPL Code of Conduct.
Previous Offenses by Digvesh Rathi
Rathi’s disciplinary issues have been a concern throughout the season. On April 1, he was fined 25% of his match fees and received one demerit point for a similar ‘notebook’ celebration after dismissing Priyansh Arya. Just days later, on April 4, he repeated the gesture against Mumbai Indians‘ Naman Dhir, resulting in a 50% fine and two additional demerit points.
Implications for LSG
The suspension of Rathi comes at a challenging time for LSG. Their loss to SRH has effectively ended their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs. With Rathi sidelined for the next match, Lucknow Super Giants will need to adjust their bowling strategy as they face Gujarat Titans in their final game of the season.
This incident underscores the importance of maintaining professionalism and adhering to the Code of Conduct in high-stakes tournaments like the IPL. Both players have faced consequences for their actions, serving as a reminder of the league’s commitment to sportsmanship and discipline.