Lucknow Spinner Rathi Sparks Controversy with Aggressive Send-Off

NEW DELHI — Lucknow Super Giants spinner Digvesh Rathi has emerged as a central figure in the ongoing IPL season, not just for his performances on the pitch, but for his contentious send-off celebration after dismissing Mumbai Indians‘ Naman Dhir during a match on Friday at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.

In the ninth over of Mumbai’s chase for 204 runs, Rathi clean bowled Dhir, who was making a significant impact with a quickfire 46 runs off 24 balls. The incident that followed raised eyebrows — Rathi’s aggressive send-off mirrored a similar celebration from his previous match against Punjab Kings, for which he had already received a 25% fine of his match fees and one demerit point.

Despite facing punishment for his earlier actions, Rathi showed no restraint, performing a now-infamous paper celebration as Dhir departed. This behavior has ignited discussions among fans and analysts about whether further disciplinary actions will be forthcoming from the league.

The IPL previously outlined Rathi’s earlier behavior as a Level 1 breach under Article 2.5, which addresses the use of language or actions that could provoke aggressive reactions. While Rathi accepted this sanction, his actions during Friday’s match suggest he remains steadfast in his bullish approach.

With consecutive games featuring contentious send-offs, the league and match referees may now be forced to consider a heavier response, prompting debates around the enforcement of conduct standards among players.