Lucknow, May 20 – Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) leg-spinner Digvesh Singh Rathi has been handed a one-match suspension for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct following another instance of his controversial "tick the notebook" celebration during a match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The celebration came after dismissing opener Abhishek Sharma, who had scored a blazing 59 off 20 balls.
This is Rathi’s third Code of Conduct violation this season. As a result of accumulating five demerit points, he will miss LSG’s upcoming match against Gujarat Titans on May 22 in Ahmedabad.
IPL Code of Conduct Breach Details
According to an official IPL release, Digvesh has been fined 50 percent of his match fees for a Level 1 offence under Article 2.5 of the Code of Conduct. The leg-spinner had previously earned:- One demerit point vs. Punjab Kings on April 1, 2025
- Two demerit points vs. Mumbai Indians on April 4, 2025
- Two more for the latest incident vs. SRH
"For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee’s decision is final and binding," the IPL statement clarified.
Abhishek Sharma Also Penalised
Sunrisers Hyderabad opener Abhishek Sharma has also been reprimanded for his part in the incident. He received a 25 percent match fee fine and one demerit point. This marks his first offence of the season.Celebration Draws Mixed Reactions
The "tick the notebook" celebration has become synonymous with Digvesh this season and has sparked widespread reactions on social media. While fans find it quirky, match officials have frowned upon its perceived lack of sportsmanship, especially when it follows aggressive batting from the opposition.Despite his flamboyant celebrations, the 25-year-old has been one of the few standout performers for LSG, claiming 14 wickets from 12 games with an economy rate of 8.18. However, his celebrations have often followed being targeted by powerful hitters, as was the case with Abhishek’s six-laden onslaught.
A Frustrating Campaign for LSG
LSG’s loss to SRH officially ended their hopes of qualifying for the IPL playoffs, marking a disappointing conclusion to their campaign. In a lighter moment from earlier in the season, teammate Nicholas Pooran had jokingly questioned Digvesh about his trademark celebration in a video shared on social media. Rathi had simply replied, "Because I am from Delhi."With disciplinary concerns now sidelining one of their key bowlers, LSG face an even steeper challenge heading into their final fixture.
