Rathi Fined for Celebration, Pant Penalised as LSG Beat MI by 12 Runs in IPL 2025 Thriller

IPL 2025 Drama: Digvesh Rathi’s Fiery Celebration Lands Him in Trouble Again, While Rishabh Pant Gets Penalised for Slow Over-Rate

The heat of the IPL 2025 season just got a bit more intense — not just because of the on-field performances but also due to some off-the-ball drama! The Friday night clash between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Mumbai Indians (MI) in Lucknow had fans glued to their screens. But amid the thrilling 12-run win for LSG, two key incidents stole the spotlight – one involving Digvesh Rathi's animated send-off celebration and the other being Rishabh Pant’s fine for slow over-rate.

Let’s break it all down for you — with the highs, the drama, and the consequences.

🎯 Digvesh Rathi's Notebook Gesture: Cool or Controversial?

It was the 25-year-old Digvesh Rathi, a mystery spinner from Delhi, who turned heads — both for his incredible bowling and a cheeky little celebration. When he dismissed MI batter Naman Dhir, Rathi celebrated in a rather flamboyant way — pretending to write something in a notebook, mimicking the now-iconic "notebook celebration" made famous by Sheldon Cottrell and others in the past. The crowd was roaring, and it looked like he was on cloud nine.

But what might have looked fun on camera didn’t sit well with the match officials.

Turns out, this kind of celebration isn't just playful banter. As per the IPL Code of Conduct – Article 2.5, any gesture or language that could provoke or demean the dismissed batter is a violation. And this was Rathi’s second offence under the same code. That meant a 50% fine on his match fee and two demerit points added to his record.

🧾 What Exactly is Article 2.5?

Good question! Here’s a quick breakdown:

Article 2.5 refers to any gesture, language, or action by a player that's directed at a batter upon dismissal, which:

• Could trigger an aggressive reaction, or

• Might be seen as insulting or demeaning, even if the batter doesn’t react.

In simpler terms, if it feels like mockery or provocation — even in jest — it can land the player in hot water.

⚠️ Strike Two for Rathi: What Happened Earlier?

This wasn’t the first time Digvesh found himself in trouble.

Back on April 1st, in another IPL match in Lucknow, he had given Priyansh Arya a similar animated send-off — that time even making slight body contact during the celebration. That earlier incident had cost him 25% of his match fee and one demerit point.

So now, with this second offense, he’s carrying three demerit points. And here’s the twist – as per the rules, four demerit points within a 36-month period means automatic suspension for one match. That’s a slippery slope. Just one more step and he’ll be watching the next game from the sidelines.

🏏 Despite the Fine, Rathi Had His Best Night

Here’s the ironic part. On the very night he was fined, Rathi was also the Player of the Match!

LSG posted a strong total of 203/8, and MI, despite looking good for a major chunk of the chase, collapsed under pressure in the final overs. Rathi’s spell was the game-changer — he bowled 4 overs for just 21 runs at a stunning economy of 5.25.

To put that into context: every other LSG bowler went for 10 or more per over! So, while others were being smacked around the park, Rathi quietly controlled one end. That’s not just impressive — that’s match-winning stuff.

🗣️ Rathi Responds: “Didn’t Think It Was a Problem This Time”

Sources say Rathi was informed clearly after his first offence that such gestures weren’t acceptable, even if there was no direct confrontation. This time, he was apparently under the impression that his earlier punishment was due to charging towards the batter, and not the celebration itself.

This incident has sparked some chatter online too. Some fans feel such celebrations add spice to the game. Others believe players must maintain decorum. Whatever your take, one thing’s clear — Rathi will have to tread carefully going forward.

🕒 Meanwhile… Rishabh Pant Joins the List of Penalised Captains

While Rathi grabbed the limelight for his on-field drama, Rishabh Pant, captain of LSG, quietly received his own penalty – a fine of ₹12 lakh for his team’s slow over rate during the same game.

This made Pant the third skipper this season to be fined for the same reason, after Hardik Pandya (MI) and Riyan Parag (RR).

It’s becoming a bit of a trend now — and not a good one. The IPL has always been particular about maintaining the tempo of the game. With matches sometimes stretching beyond scheduled timings, captains are being held accountable.

🥲 Pant’s Rough Season With the Bat Continues

Pant’s fine wasn’t the only bad news for him. His form with the bat in IPL 2025 has been disappointing so far. In this match, he scored just 2 runs off 6 balls. In fact, his last three innings have yielded 17 runs in total.

This has been quite the contrast to the explosive Pant fans are used to. Whether it’s rustiness after injury or just a rough patch, the LSG management will be hoping their skipper finds his mojo soon — both as a captain and as a finisher.

💡 Key Takeaways from the Match and Aftermath:

Here’s a quick summary of the exciting developments:

• 🏆 LSG beat MI by 12 runs in a thrilling contest.

• 🌟 Digvesh Rathi was the star with the ball and won Player of the Match.

• ✍️ His "notebook celebration" led to a 50% fine and two demerit points.

• ⚠️ He now has three points on his record – just one away from a match suspension.

• 🧾 The celebration violated Article 2.5 of the IPL Code of Conduct.

• 📉 Rishabh Pant fined ₹12 lakh for slow over rate, becoming the third captain penalised this season.

• 😞 Pant’s poor batting form continues, scoring just 2 runs in this game.

👀 What’s Next?

For fans, this incident is a reminder of how thin the line is between fun and foul play on the field. Players love to express themselves, but in a tournament as big and scrutinized as the IPL, every move is under the microscope.

As for Rathi, he’s certainly made his presence felt in his debut IPL season — both for his bowling and his personality. But if he wants to stay on the field and continue delivering match-winning spells, he’ll need to keep his celebrations a little more subtle going forward.

And Pant? He’ll be looking to get back to form fast, and hopefully avoid any more over-rate fines. After all, with the playoffs inching closer, every run and every over is going to count big time.

IPL, as always, never fails to bring us entertainment, drama, and top-notch cricket — both on and off the pitch. Stay tuned because, if this season has shown us anything, it’s that anything can happen on an IPL night!