Digvesh Rathi, Lucknow Super Giants spinner, has been fined 25% of his match fees and received demerit points for violating IPL Code and Conduct in their match with Punjab on 1st April.

What was the incident?

Punjab Kings secured a resounding 8-wicket victory against the Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday. This win propelled Punjab Kings to second place in the IPL 2025 points table with 4 points, while Lucknow Super Giants slipped to sixth position.

Digvesh Rathi was LSG’s most successful bowler in the match, claiming two wickets. However, his celebration of the first wicket proved costly. His notebook celebration after dismissing Priyansh Arya violated the IPL’s code of conduct, resulting in a fine and demerit points.

As Arya walked back to the pavilion after scoring eight off nine balls, Digvesh, his teammate from the Delhi T20 League, mimicked writing a letter — an act seemingly directed at Arya.

The umpires took note of the gesture and had a word with the bowler as it also drew immediate comparisons to West Indies pacer Kesrick Williams, who popularized the 'notebook' celebration after dismissing opponents, including a famous spat against Virat Kohli during a 2019 bilateral series.

#DigveshRathi provides the breakthrough as #PriyanshArya heads back!

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

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 1, 2025

IPL authority's Statement

The IPL issued a statement that day,"Digvesh Singh, Bowler, Lucknow Super Gaints has been fined 25 percent of his match fees and also accumulated One Demerit Point for breaching IPL Code of Conduct during his team's match with Punjab Kings at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow."

"Digvesh Singh admitted to the Level 1 offence under Article 2.5 and accepted match Referee's Sanction. For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee's decision is final and binding." stated IPL Authority.

Gavaskar's Displeasure

For that match, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar was the commentator. Rathi’s notebook celebration after dismissing Punjab Kings opener Arya didn’t sit well with the legendary commentator in the commentary box. He expressed his disapproval, stating that such a celebration would have been understandable if the wicket had fallen after a boundary in the previous ball.

He questioned the celebration, saying, “If you bowl five dot balls and take a wicket on the last ball, then you do something like this, I don’t understand. This kind of gesture clearly shows that you didn’t expect the wicket, and you got it. Now you’re trying to show off.”