Digvesh Rathi Suspended for One Match After Ugly Send-Off to Abhishek Sharma

Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) spinner Digvesh Rathi has been handed a one-match suspension and fined 50% of his match fee following his third breach of the IPL Code of Conduct this season — all for on-field behavior under Article 2.5, relating to “use of language, actions or gestures which disparage or provoke” a dismissed batter. Match: vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) Incident: After dismissing Abhishek Sharma, Rathi: Gave him a mock send-off with his now-infamous "notebook" celebration (pretending to write down the batter’s name), Followed it up with a verbal exchange, prompting umpire Michael Gough to step in and defuse the situation. 📉 Rathi’s Disciplinary Record This Season: April 1 vs PBKS – 1 demerit point for charging toward Priyansh Arya post-dismissal. April 4 vs MI – 2 demerit points for repeating the “notebook” act at Naman Dhir. May 20 vs SRH – 2 more demerit points for the Abhishek incident. Total: 5 demerit points Threshold for suspension: 4 = 1 match ban Impact: Rathi will miss LSG's next game vs Gujarat Titans on Thursday. 📝 IPL Code of Conduct – Quick Snapshot 4 demerit points = 1 match suspension 8 = 2 matches, 11 = 3 matches Points remain for 36 months, meaning Rathi's past conduct will weigh on him well into future seasons unless he keeps a clean slate. 🧠 Why This Matters: While Rathi’s aggressive persona has given him a unique on-field presence — particularly through the celebratory “notebook” gesture — he’s now at a crossroads. Continued disciplinary issues could: Impact his availability in crucial games, Reduce franchise trust in backing him long-term, And stunt his momentum as a promising uncapped spinner making a name for himself in high-pressure environments.