Image: The send-off of Priyansh Arya sparks parallels to the Kohli-Kesrick exchange / © India Today
IPL Matches and Controversies always go hand-in-hand, and this time, the 13th match of the IPL 2025 has seen one of the most controversial yet entertaining moments of the season. Lucknow Super Giants’ bowler Digvesh Rathi gave a fiery send-off to Punjab Kings batter Priyansh Arya after dismissing him for just 8 runs off 9 balls. The moment sparked debate as Rathi, after claiming the wicket, ran towards Arya and made a gesture implying that his name had been added to his list of dismissals. The on-field umpire immediately intervened and had a brief chat with the bowler regarding his aggressive celebration.
The dismissal took place in the third over of Punjab Kings’ innings when Arya attempted a shot off Rathi’s bowling but mistimed it, sending the ball high in the air. Shardul Thakur, stationed at mid-on, made no mistake in completing the catch, handing Lucknow their first breakthrough. However, the attention quickly shifted from the dismissal itself to Rathi’s over-the-top reaction, which drew mixed reactions from fans and experts alike.
Despite the early wicket, Punjab Kings remained in control of the match. They successfully chased down Lucknow Super Giants’ total of 171/7, reaching 177/2 in just 16.2 overs. Their batting unit delivered a commanding performance, ensuring a comfortable 8-wicket victory. Earlier in the match, Punjab’s bowling unit dominated the power play, restricting LSG’s top-order and keeping them from building any significant partnerships.
During the game between Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings, the fiery send-off from Digvesh Rathi showed fans a glimpse of the heated moment between Virat Kohli and Kesrick Williams. In the IPL 2025 encounter, Rathi dismissed Punjab opener Priyansh Arya for just 8 runs off 9 balls, and as Arya walked off the field, Rathi ran towards him and made a gesture signifying that Arya’s name was added to his ‘notebook’ of dismissals.
The send-off caused a stir, with the on-field umpire having a brief chat with Rathi afterward. This moment reminded fans of the infamous rivalry between Virat Kohli and West Indian bowler Kesrick Williams. During the 2017 T20I series, Williams had dismissed Kohli and celebrated with an animated “notebook” gesture, which clearly got under Kohli’s skin. The two crossed paths again during India’s 2019 T20I series against the West Indies, where Kohli, after dominating Williams with an unbeaten 94, replicated the “notebook” celebration by using his bat.
Rathi’s intense send-off during the IPL 2025 match sparked comparisons to the famous Kohli-Williams incident, where both bowlers celebrated dismissals in a dramatic way. This led to strong reactions from fans and experts alike. Some defended Rathi’s gesture, saying it added excitement to the game, while others, like the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, criticized it. He said:
I can understand the celebration if the wicket comes after the batsman hit a boundary or a six in the previous ball. As a bowler, you’ve got six deliveries. So if you got five dot balls and get a wicket of the sixth, then you do something like that, it’s not understandable. But all these gestures mean that you don’t expect to get a wicket. And now that you’ve got a wicket, you’re trying to, you know, show off.
Gavaskar argued that such celebrations should not become common, as batters don’t react similarly to bowlers’ performances. This incident once again raised the debate about sportsmanship and on-field behavior in cricket.
When it comes to the history between Priyansh Arya and Digvesh Rathi, both players have a long-standing connection from their time playing for the Delhi team in the domestic circuit. In the recently concluded Delhi Premier League, both were part of the South Delhi Superstarz, who finished as the runners-up of the tournament. Arya was the top run-scorer of the tournament, and both players have maintained a friendly relationship.
This shared history made Rathi’s fiery send-off of Arya during the IPL 2025 match appear as lighthearted banter between friends. However, the intense celebration from Rathi, which caught the umpire’s attention, could lead to consequences. The IPL Code of Conduct violation is under scrutiny, and the match referee is expected to look into the incident after the match concludes. The BCCI may take action depending on the outcome of the investigation.