IPL 2025: Digvesh Rathi suspended, Abhishek Sharma fined after heated on-field argument

Digvesh Rathi vs Abhishek Sharma;

After a brawl with Sunrisers Hyderabad opener Abhishek Sharma at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Monday, Lucknow Super Giants spinner Divesh Rathi was suspended for the team's last league-stage game after accruing additional demerit points for violating the Code of Conduct.

Rathi has committed a Level 1 offence for the third time this season, according to the tournament organizers, earning five demerit points that entitle him to a one-match suspension.

“This was his third Level 1 offence under Article 2.5 this season and hence, he has accumulated Two Demerit Points, in addition to Three Demerit Points he had accumulated earlier – One Demerit Point against Punjab Kings on April 01, 2025 and Two Demerit Points against Mumbai Indians on April 04, 2025.

“As he now has Five Demerit Points this season – which result in a one-game suspension – Digvesh will now be suspended for LSG’s next game – against Gujarat Titans on May 22, 2025 in Ahmedabad. For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee’s decision is final and binding,” the statement from IPL read.

With his trademark farewell celebration, the LSG spinner infuriated SRH opener Abhishek after giving Shardul Thakur a catch at the extra cover area. As he left, Abhishek Sharma eyeballed the bowler because of this.  He then halted and turned to face Rathi again. The LSG fielders and the umpire had to separate the two, but not before they spoke to each other.

Due to his first violation of the Code of Conduct this season, Abhishek was additionally fined 25% of his match fees as a result of the incident.

The intensity of a must-win clash! #DigveshRathi dismisses the dangerous #AbhishekSharma, & things get heated right after! Is this the breakthrough #LSG needed to turn things around? Watch the LIVE action https://t.co/qihxZlIhqW #IPLRace2Playoffs #LSGvSRH | pic.twitter.com/TG6LXWNiVa
Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 19, 2025

Following the Sunrisers' six-wicket victory, Digvesh and Abhishek later conversed with one another as the teams shook hands.

Player of the Match Abhishek Sharma discussed the incident with JioHotstar, the broadcaster. “We [him and Rathi] spoke after the game, it is all good now,” he said after SRH knocked LSG out of Playoffs contention.

This season, Rathi's joyous antics have drawn attention on multiple occasions.  Early in the season, Rathi started signing off on his dismissals on the ground because his notebook autographs were deemed inappropriate by the match referee.

Rathi tops the standings for all uncapped spinners this edition with 14 wickets.