Nitish Rana has addressed the heated exchange that occurred between him and Digvesh Rathi during the Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2025 Eliminator match between the West Delhi Lions and South Delhi Superstarz. The incident, which resulted in both players being fined, has been a major talking point in the aftermath of the game. Rathi was penalized with 80% of his match fees, while Rana received a 50% fine.
According to DPL's media advisory, Rathi's Level 2 breach was "for conduct contrary to the spirit of the game," while Rana's Level 1 breach involved "using a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during a match". The confrontation took place while Rana was batting, after he reverse-swept Rathi for a boundary. Rana then gestured as if he was writing on his bat, mimicking Rathi's signature celebration after taking a wicket. This prompted a verbal exchange between the two, requiring the intervention of umpires and other players.
Rana has now spoken out about the incident, stating that Rathi initiated the confrontation. He seemingly suggested that his actions were a response to provocation, stating, "If someone pokes me or gets in my face...".
The feud between Rana and Rathi isn't new. Rathi has a history of on-field confrontations, including multiple fines in the IPL 2025 and even a missed match due to his aggressive send-offs. His "notebook celebration" has also been a source of controversy, with some considering it disrespectful. In the past, Rathi has performed the notebook celebration against players like Namandeep, Priyam Garg, and Abhishek Sharma.
The Eliminator match saw Rana lead his team, the West Delhi Lions, to a 7-wicket victory with an impressive unbeaten 134 off 55 balls. His innings included 8 boundaries and 15 sixes. Despite his match-winning performance, the on-field spat has overshadowed his accomplishment.
The match referee determined that both players had violated the code of conduct, leading to the fines. Both Rana and Rathi admitted guilt and accepted the sanctions without further hearings. The incident has sparked debate about on-field behavior and the line between competitive spirit and unsportsmanlike conduct. Some believe Rathi needs to tone down his celebrations, while others feel Rana was overly sensitive.
