BCCI imposed heavy fine on bowler of Lucknow Super Giants

Lucknow: During the 13th match of IPL 2025, the action of Lucknow Super Giants spinner Digvesh Singh Rathi was in the news. Eventually, the Board of Control for Cricket in India had to impose a heavy fine on this 25-year-old cricketer. In fact, after dismissing Punjab Kings batsman Priyansh Arya, questions were raised on the way bowler Digvesh celebrated. He was fined 25 percent of the match fee and given a demerit point for his ‘letter-writing’ celebration.

The BCCI on Tuesday fined Digvesh Singh Rathi for ‘violating the IPL Code of Conduct’ during the match played between LSG and PBKS at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. Punjab won the match by 8 wickets. The IPL statement said, ‘Digvesh Singh has accepted the Level 1 offense under Article 2.5 and has also accepted the punishment of the match referee.’ Digvesh’s controversial celebration was seen on the last ball of the third over during PBKS’ chase of 172 runs.

Digvesh bowled a short and slightly wide delivery, which Priyansh Arya tried to pull without moving his feet much, but the ball went over the top edge. Shardul Thakur ran from mid-on and took the catch. After this, when Priyansh was returning to the pavilion after scoring 8 runs off 9 balls, his teammate in the Delhi T20 League, Digvesh, imitated the act of writing a letter.

The umpires noticed this gesture of the bowler and spoke to him, as it was compared to West Indies fast bowler Kesrick Williams. He popularized the ‘notebook’ celebration after dismissals, including that ‘famous fight’ against Virat Kohli during the 2019 bilateral series.

Who is Digvesh Singh Rathi
Leg spinner Digvesh Singh Rathi hides the ball behind his back like Sunil Narine while bowling. Digvesh caught everyone’s attention with his brilliant performance for runner-up South Delhi Superstars in the Delhi Premier League played in 2024. In that tournament, Digvesh proved to be the trump card of his captain Ayush Badoni. He finished fourth in the list of highest wicket takers with 14 wickets in 10 matches. His economy was just 7.83.

Digvesh was bought by Lucknow Super Giants for his base price of Rs 30 lakh in the mega auction ahead of IPL 2025. Soon after, he made his T20 debut for Delhi in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024, in which he took three wickets in two matches.