The Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2025 Eliminator witnessed a fiery confrontation that overshadowed the cricketing spectacle, as West Delhi Lions’ star batter Nitish Rana and South Delhi Superstarz’s bowler Digvesh Rathi engaged in a heated on-field altercation. What ought to have been a celebration of Rana’s match-winning century was a storm of controversy over participant self-discipline and sportsmanship.
Tempers flare as Nitish Rana and Digvesh Rathi lose management
The flashpoint erupted within the second innings, when Rana’s blistering batting left Rathi visibly pissed off. After conceding a sequence of sixes, the bowler intentionally slowed down his supply stride, sparking a tit-for-tat response from Rana, who stepped away on the crease. The strain peaked when Rana struck a reverse-sweep for six and adopted it with a provocative’“pocket book celebration.’
The gesture infuriated Rathi, who reportedly unleashed a volley of abuse, prompting Rana to cost in the direction of him. Umpires and teammates needed to intervene rapidly to forestall the incident from escalating into bodily blows. What started as a battle of expertise quickly was an unsightly show of mood beneath the high-stakes strain of the Eliminator.
Right here’s the video:
An intense second within the center! 🏏
Nitish Rana | Digvesh Singh Rathi | West Delhi Lions | South Delhi Superstarz | #DPL #DPL2025 #AdaniDPL2025 #Delhi pic.twitter.com/dX5E5wFDqd
— Delhi Premier League T20 (@DelhiPLT20) August 29, 2025
The league’s committee wasted no time in taking disciplinary motion. Digvesh Rathi was fined 80% of his match charge beneath Article 2.2 of the DPL code of conduct, a Degree 2 offence protecting behaviour “opposite to the spirit of the sport.” Nitish Rana, too, confronted punishment – shedding 50% of his match charge beneath Article 2.6 for making “obscene or offensive gestures.”
A number of different gamers had been additionally fined for abusive language and provocative gestures through the chaotic sport, underlining DPL’s powerful stance on upholding professionalism and respect on the sector.
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Rana’s century overshadowed by controversy
Satirically, the evening was imagined to belong to Nitish Rana, who performed one of many best knocks in DPL historical past. His unbeaten 134 off 55 balls, full of 15 sixes and eight fours, sealed a outstanding victory for the West Delhi Lions and earned him the Participant of the Match award. But, his brilliance with the bat was overshadowed by the ugly conflict with Rathi.
For Rathi, the sport was doubly bitter. Not solely did he face disciplinary sanctions, however his bowling figures – 39 runs conceded in simply two overs – highlighted a forgettable efficiency on the sector.
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