Lucknow Super Giants spinner Digvesh Rathi and India-capped batter Nitish Rana were heavily fined for a heated exchange during Friday's Delhi Premier League (DPL) Eliminator.
Things got heated between Rathi and Rana in the middle during the knockout match between South Delhi Superstarz and West Delhi Lions. During the Lions' chase, Rathi pulled out of releasing one delivery, as Rana mockingly played a sweep shot. The bowler walked back to his mark with a wry smile. As Rathi ran in again, Rana, in response, pulled out of his guard mid-action for the next delivery. A few words were exchanged between the two.
Soon, Rana reverse-swept Rathi for a six over deep point and signed his bat in an imitation of Rathi's "notebook" celebration during this year's IPL, before kissing it.
From that moment, things escalated further. Although it was unclear from the footage who initiated it, Rana was seen charging at Rathi, giving him a mouthful before Rathi's teammates intervened to calm things down. Rathi was walking off, but not without murmuring a few words.
It’s all happening here! 🔥🏏
— Delhi Premier League T20 (@DelhiPLT20) August 29, 2025
Nitish Rana | Digvesh Singh Rathi | West Delhi Lions | South Delhi Superstarz | #DPL #DPL2025 #AdaniDPL2025 #Delhi pic.twitter.com/OfDZQGhOlr
Rana, however, had the last laugh, scoring an unbeaten 134 off 55 balls, laced with eight fours and 15 sixes, to help his side chase 202 in the Eliminator with seven wickets and 2.5 overs remaining. He had been particularly aggressive against Rathi, hitting the wrist-spinner for 22 and 16 runs in his two overs. Rathi, having conceded 39 off two overs, was taken out of the attack and didn’t complete his full quota.
The two were handed heavy fines after the match for breaching the code of conduct. Rathi, who was suspended for a game in IPL 2025 for a repeated offence, was fined 80 percent of his match fee for the latest incident after his actions were deemed "contrary to the spirit of the game". Rana, meanwhile, was fined 50 per cent of his match fee for "using a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting".
Three more players penalised
They aren’t the only ones to have been fined for a heated exchange. Rana’s teammate, Krish Yadav, was involved in a spat with Sumit Mathur and bowler Aman Bharti after getting out for 31 off 22 balls in the 11th over of the chase. Krish was fined his entire match fee for "use of audible obscenity following an abuse from the opposing team player and pointing the bat towards the player".
Meanwhile, Mathur was fined 50 per cent of his match fee for "using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from another player", and Bharti 30 percent for "use of audible obscenity".
West Delhi Lions will next play East Delhi Riders in Qualifier 2 on Saturday (August 30), the winners of which will meet Central Delhi Kings in the final on Sunday (August 31).
Eliminator, West Delhi Lions vs South Delhi Superstarz
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