The IPL governing body has fined Digvesh Rathi for his Notebook Celebration as the bowler was found guilty of an IPL code of conduct breach after he sent off Punjab Kings batter Priyansh Arya. Rathi, who was the only bowler from the LSG front to pick wickets in last night’s match 13 clash of LSG vs PBKS. But besides taking wickets, Rathi was involved in a breach of the IPL code of conduct and now has faced a fine penalty for his viral Notebook Celebration last night.
Rathi dismissed his former Delhi teammate Priyansh Arya in his very first over. After the dismissal, Rathi was seen celebrating the wicket dismissal, which reminded fans of the past West Indies pacer Kesrick Williams’ celebration. After this celebration, Digvesh has been fined 25% of his match fees and also received one demerit point for the “Notebook Celebration”.
The viral Rathi’s Notebook Celebration
During the match between Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings at the Ekana stadium on Tuesday, Rathi mimicked Virat Kohli’s iconic celebration after he dismissed Priyansh Arya in the third over of the PBKS innings. After the dismissal, Rathi charged towards Arya and mimicked the famous gesture, where he pretended to open an imaginary notebook, “writing” the batter’s name, and ticking it off.
After this gesture, umpires took note of Digvesh’s celebration and discussed it with him. It might have been a friendly banter with an old friend, but the IPL Governing Council didn’t pay any heed to it especially after the umpires were involved.
IPL Penalty for Digvesh Rathi for the breach
Digvesh Singh, Bowler, Lucknow Super Giants, has been fined 25 per cent of his match fees and has also accumulated One Demerit Point for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during his team’s match against Punjab Kings at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Tuesday. Read the IPL release statement for the breach fine
For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee’s decision is final and binding. Digvesh Singh admitted to the Level 1 offence under Article 2.5 and accepted the Match Referee’s sanction.
Talking of the match, LSG, after trying hard, lost the match 13 to the Punjab Kings at their home ground. After a shaky start at 35/3, they set a target of 171, which Punjab Kings chased down in 16.2 overs, winning by eight wickets. Digvesh Rathi took both wickets, including Prabhsimran Singh, who scored 69 off 34 balls. Losing this clash, Lucknow has slipped to the sixth spot of the IPL Points table and has just won a single match of their last three IPL encounters of this season.
