The Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2025 has levied a substantial fine against Digvesh Rathi following a heated confrontation with Nitish Rana during an Eliminator match between the West Delhi Lions and South Delhi Superstarz. The incident, which has been described as an "ugly showdown," has resulted in Rathi receiving the heftiest penalty in the tournament thus far for breaching the Code of Conduct.
The clash between Rathi, a leg-spinner, and Rana, the captain of the West Delhi Lions, occurred during the crucial knockout contest at Arun Jaitley Stadium. Tensions flared when Rathi halted his bowling stride as Rana attempted a sweep shot, a tactic Rathi had previously employed in the IPL 2025. Rana retaliated by backing away as Rathi was about to bowl, leading to a verbal exchange. Rana reportedly taunted Rathi, saying "Chal dalta reh chal (keep bowling)".
The situation escalated further when Rana hit a reverse sweep for a six on the next ball and mocked Rathi by mimicking his signature notebook celebration on his bat. This provocative act ignited Rathi, who responded with "unsavory words," prompting Rana to charge towards him in anger. Other players intervened to separate the two before the situation could escalate into physical violence.
While the exact details of the fine imposed on Rathi remain undisclosed, it has been confirmed as the "heftiest" in the DPL 2025, indicating the severity with which the league views his actions. The organizers have stated that Rathi's conduct was "contrary to the spirit of the game," emphasizing the importance of maintaining sportsmanlike behavior even in high-pressure situations.
In addition to the fine imposed on Rathi, other players were also penalized for code of conduct breaches during the same match. Sumit Mathur was fined 50 percent of his match fee for using provocative language or gestures, while Krish Yadav received the heaviest penalty, with 100 percent of his match fees fined, for audible obscenities.
Despite the on-field drama, Nitish Rana led the West Delhi Lions to victory, scoring an unbeaten 134 off 55 balls.
