NEW DELHI: Lucknow Super Giants’ young spinner Digvesh Rathi has found himself in the spotlight this
IPL season -- not just for his performances, but for his controversial “notebook” celebration, which has landed him in disciplinary trouble for the second time in just a few days.
Rathi first drew attention during LSG’s match against Punjab Kings last Tuesday.
Also See:
IPL Live Score, RR vs PBKSAfter dismissing opener Priyansh Arya, a player he’s familiar with from the Delhi Premier League, Rathi celebrated by mimicking the act of writing in a notebook -- a gesture that was deemed provocative by the match officials.
Poll
Do you think Digvesh Rathi's notebook celebration was appropriate?
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Though playful in intent, the act was seen as unsportsmanlike.
He was fined 25% of his match fee, which comes to Rs 1,87,500 (given the standard IPL 2025 match fee of Rs 7.5 lakh), and received one demerit point.
However, the spinner didn’t back down.
Just four days later, during a high-stakes clash against the Mumbai Indians at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, Rathi repeated the celebration after dismissing Naman Dhir.
Jos Buttler Exclusive Interview: I owe Jayawardene for letting me open in T20
This time, the reaction from the IPL disciplinary committee was even stronger.
Rathi was fined 50% of his match fee: a hefty Rs 3,75,000, and was handed a second Level 1 offence charge under Article 2.5 of the IPL Code of Conduct, bringing his total demerit points to three for the season.
Altogether, Digvesh Rathi has now been fined Rs 5,62,500 for his two celebration-related offences.
While celebrations are part of the thrill of T20 cricket, the league has made it clear that players must maintain respect for opponents and the spirit of the game.
The incidents have sparked debate among fans and experts alike about where to draw the line between expression and provocation.
Get IPL 2025 match schedules, squads, points table, and live scores for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.