Lucknow Super Giants spinner Digvesh Rathi was punished for coming out in a fiery send-off towards Punjab Kings opener Priyansh Arya during their IPL 2025 game on Tuesday at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) fined Rathi for violating the IPL Code of Conduct, slapping him with a 25% match fee fine and one demerit point. His exuberant notebook celebration during Arya's dismissal was considered excessive.
"Lucknow Super Giants bowler Digvesh Singh has been fined 25 percent of his match fees and also has incurred One Demerit Point for violating the IPL Code of Conduct while playing his team's match against Punjab Kings at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Tuesday," the official announcement confirmed.
The controversial moment unfolded in the third over of PBKS's innings when Arya mistimed a shot off Rathi’s delivery, sending the ball high into the air. Positioned at mid-on, Shardul Thakur safely completed the catch, securing LSG’s first wicket of the match.
After the dismissal, Rathi ran towards the leaving batter and made a gesture of celebration, indicating that Arya's name had been registered in his "notebook" of dismissals. The on-field umpire immediately stepped in, asking the spinner over for a quick word about his behavior.
"Digvesh pleaded guilty to the Level 1 offence against Article 2.5 and accepted the Match Referee's sanction. The decision of the Match Referee in Level 1 Code of Conduct breaches is final and binding," the release added.
Regarding the match, in spite of LSG having a total of 171/7, PBKS easily chased it. A dominant batting performance saw Player of the Match Prabhsimran Singh (69 in 34), skipper Shreyas Iyer (52* in 30), and Nehal Wadhera (43* in 25) lead Punjab Kings to an easy win, closing the chase with 22 balls remaining.
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