Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) star spinner Digvesh Rathi has been in the spotlight all during the IPL 2025 season—both for his on-field performance and for his controversial celebrations. His new “notebook celebration,” where he mimics writing in a notebook while taking a wicket, has caused controversy among fans, commentators, and cricket administrators. While to some it is a celebration of individuality and style, to others it is still in-your-face and against the spirit of the game. It has been controversial enough to bring to a boil every time Rathi has been fined by the BCCI for imitating victory gestures in an IPL 2025 match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and him.
The Incident
“What a moment! 🙌🏻 Digvesh Rathi comes into the attack and takes the wicket of his idol, Sunil Narine! Just added another 3 lakhs INR fine loading! 😅 #KKRvsLSG #KKRvLSG #LSGvsKKR #DigveshRathi #SunilNarine pic.twitter.com/B3Chx1mY8N
— Adv. Atifa Zahra (@AtifaZahra99) April 8, 2025
In the IPL 2025 game between LSG and KKR, Rathi bowled out Sunil Narine, a T20 cricket icon. Rathi performed a twist of his usual celebration after bowling out, this time acting as if he was writing on the ground instead of writing in a book. The act automatically attracted everyone’s attention since it was an imitation of his previous celebrations that had already earned him disciplinary action. BCCI had previously fined Rathi for similar gestures in matches played against PBKS and Mumbai Indians (MI) calling them misconducts of the IPL Code of Conduct.
Previous Controversies
Rathi’s “notebook celebration” first landed itself in controversy with LSG’s match against PBKS when he eliminated Priyansh Arya and made the gesture.
Digvesh Rathi adds Priyansh Arya’s name to his wicket-taking list ✍️#TATAIPL | #LSGvPBKS | @LucknowIPL pic.twitter.com/64I6EBdElp
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 1, 2025
The gesture was deemed provocative, for which he was penalized a 25% match fee fine and a Level 1 offence under Article 2.5 of the IPL Code of Conduct. Despite intense opposition from the team management and officials, Rathi repeated the gesture in the subsequent match against MI, after having Naman Dhir bowled out. This attracted an even sterner penalty—a 50% match fee fine and two demerit points.
Fearless. Flawless. Fast ⏩
Naman Dhir departs after a 🔝 46 (24) run knock that brought #MI back in the chase after a tough start.
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/HHS1Gsb3Wz#TATAIPL | #LSGvMI pic.twitter.com/dKU2gZFjCS
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 4, 2025
The Fallout
The repeated demerit points and fines have put Rathi in the limelight. According to the IPL rules, four demerit points in a single season result in the player automatically being suspended for one match. Rathi already has three demerit points against his name, and further indiscipline can result in him being benched. This raised questions regarding whether the young bowler is letting his attitude off the field overshadow his on-field performances.
Mixed Reactions
Cricket is divided down the middle on Rathi’s celebration. Some like former New Zealand bowler and current IPL commentator Simon Doull have spoken in Rathi’s defense saying that veteran cricketers were never booked for bigger mistakes. According to them, Rathi’s celebration brings personality to the game and cannot be punished to such an extent. Others assert that such actions can evoke negative responses from the opposite sides and defile the spirit of the game.
LSG Comes Under Pressure
Rathi’s behaviour has also come under pressure at LSG. As much as his bowling has made the team the difference between winning and losing this season, his discipline has also been a problem. The LSG hierarchy is trying to put the young bowler in line and make sure that he keeps his eye on the ball.
The Bigger Picture: Cricket Celebrations
The sport of cricket has never lacked celebrations, which add colour and passion to the game. From Imran Tahir’s furious dash to the pavilion to Sheldon Cottrell’s soldier salute, players have succeeded in celebrating victory in different ways. Most of these celebrations are criticized, however, if they are found to be provocative or disrespectful.
The scandal surrounding Rathi’s notebook victory raises key questions of the place of celebrations in cricket. Can teams celebrate as they please, or are there more stringent norms that promote sportsmanship? It is bound to be a subject of heated debate, as cricket goes on to further develop in finding the balance between modernity and tradition.
Conclusion
Digvesh Rathi IPL 2025 career is a tribute to talent, controversy, and the fine balance of self-expression and sportsmanship. As the season goes on, it will be interesting to observe whether Rathi is able to strike a balance between self-expression and rule-following. One thing is sure: his actions have set off a larger debate on the role of celebrations in cricket and the necessity of maintaining the spirit of the game.
