Former Indian cricketer Yograj Singh has strongly criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for fining and banning Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) spinner Digvesh Rathi for his "notebook celebration" during the recently concluded IPL 2025 season. Singh, known for his outspoken nature, deemed the disciplinary actions as "nonsense" and urged the BCCI to show more understanding towards young players.
Digvesh Rathi, a 25-year-old leg-spinner, grabbed attention in IPL 2025, not only for his bowling prowess but also for his unique celebratory gesture. After dismissing a batter, Rathi would act as if he was striking off a name from a notebook, a gesture that quickly went viral. However, this celebration also landed him in trouble with the IPL authorities.
Rathi was fined on three separate occasions for violating the Code of Conduct. The first instance occurred during a match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) when he dismissed Priyansh Arya, resulting in a fine and a demerit point. He repeated the celebration against Mumbai Indians (MI) after taking the wicket of Naman Dhir, incurring further fines and demerit points. The final straw came after dismissing Abhishek Sharma of SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), which led to a heated exchange and a more severe penalty: a 50% match fee fine and a one-match suspension.
Yograj Singh has now come out in support of Digvesh Rathi, calling the punishments excessive and unwarranted. In an interview with InsideSport, Singh questioned the logic behind fining young players for expressing themselves on the field. "Come on man, don't fine them. It's okay," Yograj stated. "You are still friends with the bowlers. Everybody is not the same. Emotions go. Forgive them. Obviously, at the end of the day, you're friends, if you say sorry, the matter is over. Have a big heart and don't get into these petty things. What is this nonsense going on, fining kids?"
Singh argued that aggressive celebrations and sledging have long been part of cricket and that similar or worse behavior has been overlooked in the past. He highlighted what he sees as inconsistencies in the BCCI's approach to penalizing players. Singh recalled an incident where Steve Waugh sledged Yuvraj Singh after the latter was struck by a ball, yet no action was taken.
Rathi himself explained the origin of his notebook celebration. According to the LSG spinner, he carries a notebook to every tournament and jots down the names of all the players. The celebration is simply a way for him to mark off the names of those he has dismissed.
Despite the controversies, Digvesh Rathi had a successful debut season in the IPL 2025. Picked up by LSG for ₹30 lakh, he became the team's leading wicket-taker, with 14 wickets in 13 matches, at an average of 30.64 and an economy rate of 8.25. He also went viral after taking 5 wickets in 5 balls during a local T20 match.
Yograj Singh's criticism of the BCCI's actions against Digvesh Rathi raises important questions about the balance between maintaining discipline and allowing players to express themselves on the field. While some view Rathi's celebration as unsportsmanlike, others see it as a display of positive aggression and a unique way for the young spinner to make his mark in the competitive world of cricket.
