IPL 2025, LSG vs SRH: Digvesh Rathi suspended for one match after clash with Abhishek Sharma

Lucknow: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) spinner Digvesh Rathi has been handed a one-match suspension and fined 50 per cent of his match fee after breaching the Indian Premier League (IPL) Code of Conduct for the third time this season, the league announced on Tuesday.

The latest infraction occurred during LSG’s home fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), where Rathi dismissed Abhishek Sharma in the eighth over of the second innings and gave him a pointed send-off. Rathi waved Sharma off the field and theatrically entered the dismissal in his imaginary "notebook", before engaging in a verbal exchange with the batsman. On-field umpire Michael Gough had to step in to de-escalate the situation.

This act has taken Rathi's demerit point tally to five for the season, triggering an automatic suspension under the IPL’s disciplinary framework. He will consequently miss LSG's upcoming clash against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Thursday.

All five of Rathi’s demerit points have been accrued under Article 2.5 of the IPL Code of Conduct, which covers language, actions, or gestures directed at a batsman upon dismissal that may provoke an aggressive response or demean the player. The IPL mandates that four demerit points translate into one suspension point, resulting in a one-match ban.

Rathi’s disciplinary record includes one demerit point for a similar "notebook" celebration directed at Punjab Kings’ Priyansh Arya on April 1, and two demerit points for another celebration involving Mumbai Indians’ Naman Dhir on April 4. The spinner was reportedly warned after the first incident, but he claimed he misunderstood the nature of the charge.

With demerit points remaining on a player’s record for 36 months, Rathi faces a potential two-match suspension if he reaches eight points and a three-match ban upon reaching eleven.

SRH’s Abhishek Sharma was also fined 25 per cent of his match fee for his role in the altercation, marking his first offence of the season. Despite the flashpoint, both players were seen shaking hands and joking after the match, which SRH won by six wickets with ten balls remaining.

Rathi’s absence will be a blow to LSG as they face table-toppers GT. He has been the franchise’s leading wicket-taker this season with 14 wickets, standing out in an otherwise lacklustre campaign for the bowling unit. However, he will be available for LSG’s final league fixture on May 27 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).