IPL 2025: Digvesh Rathi Suspended After Heated Clash with Abhishek Sharma

Lucknow Super Giants' Digvesh Rathi has become well-known in this season of the IPL, not just for taking wickets but also for the way he celebrates them, by pulling out his notebook and pretending to write something, often irritating the batters he dismisses.

On Monday, he was in the spotlight again. He took the key wicket of a well-set Abhishek Sharma, just when the match seemed to be slipping away from LSG. Abhishek hit the ball straight to Shardul Thakur at extra cover and was caught out.

Heated Exchange: Abhishek and Rathi Clash After Dismissal

As Abhishek started walking off, Rathi gave him his trademark send-off with an intense stare. This didn’t sit well with Abhishek, who glared back. Then, instead of walking away, Abhishek turned around and started walking back toward Rathi. Things got tense quickly, and the umpire and LSG players had to step in to separate them. Before they were pulled apart, the two exchanged some heated words.

This is not a small mistake; it seems to be much more than that.

Argument between Digvesh Rathi and Abhishek Sharma 🥶😯
#LSGvsSRH #SRHvsLSG #abhisheksharma #DIGVIJAY pic.twitter.com/AxGwvWLSOB

— Elvish rajput (@RajputElvi63646) May 19, 2025

Before all the drama unfolded, Abhishek Sharma gave Sunrisers Hyderabad a flying start, smashing 59 runs off just 19 balls. Thanks to his quick knock, SRH reached 99/1 in only eight overs while chasing 206. That’s when Rishabh Pant, the PSG captain, brought on spinner Digvesh Rathi to try and break the partnership. And Rathi did just that; he got Abhishek out and gave his team a much-needed breakthrough. Later in the innings, he also managed to dismiss Ishan Kishan, though there wasn’t any heated moment between them at that time.

After Sunrisers won the match by six wickets, a result that knocked Lucknow Super Giants out of the IPL 2025 playoff race, Digvesh Rathi and Abhishek Sharma were seen talking to each other during the post-match handshakes. The exchange seemed a bit tense, prompting LSG’s Vijay Dahiya to step in and calm things down.

Abhishek and Rathi Clear the Air During Presentation

A little later, during the presentation ceremony on the ground, both Rathi and Abhishek were spotted standing next to each other again, this time chatting calmly. That’s when BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla walked over to them and joined the conversation.

Abhishek Sharma, who was the Player of the Match, spoke about the incident to the broadcaster JioHotstar. “We [he and Rathi] spoke after the game, it is all good now,” he said.

Digvesh Singh Rathi Suspended for One Match After Accumulating Five Demerit Points

The BCCI has found Digvesh guilty of breaking the IPL Code of Conduct for the third time this season. As a result, the spinner has been fined 50% of his match fee and will not be allowed to play in LSG’s next match against the Gujarat Titans.

An IPL release on the matter read, "This was his third Level 1 offence under Article 2.5 this season and hence, he has accumulated Two Demerit Points, in addition to Three Demerit Points he had accumulated earlier - One Demerit Point against Punjab Kings on April 01, 2025 and Two Demerit Points against Mumbai Indians on April 04, 2025."

"As he now has Five Demerit Points this season - which result in a one-game suspension - Digvesh will now be suspended for LSG's next game - against Gujarat Titans on May 22, 2025 in Ahmedabad."

Abhishek Sharma Fined for On-Field Altercation

SRH batter Abhishek Sharma was also penalised by the BCCI for his alteraction with Digvesh during the match.

The IPL release further read: "Abhishek Sharma, All-rounder, Sunrisers Hyderabad has been fined 25 per cent of his match fees for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during his team's match against Lucknow Super Giants at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Monday. This was his first Level 1 offence under Article 2.6 this season and hence, he has accumulated One Demerit Point.

"For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee's decision is final and binding."

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