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In a decisive move, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken strict action against Lucknow Super Giants bowler Digvesh Singh Rathi for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during the match against Punjab Kings at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday. Rathi was fined 25% of his match fees and received one demerit point for his animated notebook celebration after dismissing young PBKS batter Priyansh Arya. The BCCI’s stern action underscores the importance of maintaining sportsmanship and discipline on the field.
Digvesh Singh Rathi acknowledged committing a Level 1 offense under Article 2.5 of the IPL Code of Conduct and accepted the match referee’s decision. According to IPL regulations, the sanction for Level 1 breaches is final and cannot be appealed.
"Digvesh Singh, bowler, Lucknow Super Giants has been fined 25 per cent of his match fees and has also accumulated one Demerit Point for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during his team’s match against Punjab Kings at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Tuesday," BCCI said in a statement after the LSG vs PBKS match.
The incident occurred on the penultimate ball of the third over during the PBKS chase. Digvesh Singh Rathi bowled a short and wide delivery to Priyansh Arya, who attempted a pull shot without much foot movement, resulting in a top-edge. Shardul Thakur sprinted in from mid-on and completed a sharp catch. As Arya made his way back to the pavilion after scoring 8 runs off 9 balls, Digvesh, his teammate from the Delhi T20 League, approached him and mimicked writing his name in an imaginary notebook. The umpires quickly took notice of the gesture and decided to have a word with Digvesh. The celebration instantly reminded fans and analysts of West Indies fast bowler Kesrick Williams, who popularized the notebook gesture after dismissing opposition batters.
#DigveshRathi provides the breakthrough as #PriyanshArya heads back!
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 1, 2025
P.S: Don't miss the celebration at the end! 👀✍🏻
Watch LIVE action of #LSGvPBKS ➡ https://t.co/GLxHRDQajv#IPLOnJiostar | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi & JioHotstar! | #IndianPossibleLeague pic.twitter.com/TAhHDtXX8n
The right-arm pacer gained fame for his signature notebook celebration after dismissing then-India captain Virat Kohli during a bilateral series in 2019, only for the star batter to respond emphatically in the following match. Digvesh’s imitation of the celebration did not sit well with legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar." I can understand the celebration if the wicket comes after the batsman hit a boundary or a six in the previous ball. As a bowler, you've got six deliveries. So if you got five dot balls and get a wicket of the sixth, then you do something like that, it's not understandable. But all these gestures mean that you don't expect to get a wicket. And now that you've got a wicket, you're trying to, you know, show off," he said on commentary.