BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla Steps In as Mediator, Abhishek Sharma and Digvesh Rathi Bury IPL 2025 Spat

The Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) is no stranger to high-octane moments, and the 2025 season has already delivered its share of drama. During a match between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 19 at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, a fiery on-field confrontation between SRH’s Abhishek Sharma and LSG’s Digvesh Rathi stole the spotlight.

The clash occurred as SRH chased a daunting 206-run target set by LSG, with Abhishek leading the charge with a blistering 59 runs off just 20 balls. However, his explosive innings was cut short by Rathi, whose provocative celebration sparked a verbal altercation that required immediate intervention from the umpires. 

The tension lingered beyond the match, culminating in a post-game exchange that saw the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice-President Rajeev Shukla step in to mediate, ensuring the situation was resolved amicably.

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Rajeev Shukla Diffuses Abhishek Sharma-Digvesh Rathi Tensions

The incident occurred in the eighth over of SRH’s innings when Digvesh Rathi’s wide googly deceived Abhishek Sharma, resulting in a catch by Shardul Thakur in the deep. Rathi, known for his theatrical celebrations, performed his signature ‘notebook’ gesture, mimicking writing the dismissed batter’s name, and gave Abhishek a send-off.

The SRH opener, who looked visibly irked, responded with sharp words, prompting a brief but intense verbal spat. The on-field umpires swiftly stepped in to de-escalate, warning both players to maintain composure.

Post-match, the tension appeared to subside as Abhishek and Rathi were spotted in a cordial conversation. Shukla, present at the venue, briefly intervened to ensure the situation remained under control.

Rathi’s celebration, however, has been a point of contention throughout IPL 2025. He was already fined twice this season, and now, after the altercation with Abhishek, he has been penalized thrice, resulting in a one-match suspension. He will not be available for LSG’s fixture scheduled against Gujarat Titans (GT) on May 22.

Lucknow Super Giants Eliminated from IPL 2025 Playoff Race 

The defeat proved fatal for LSG, officially ending their IPL 2025 playoff hopes. They became the fifth team to be eliminated.

The match itself was a high-scoring thriller, with SRH’s batters overpowering LSG’s formidable total of 205 runs. Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 59 runs off 20 balls set the tone, while Heinrich Klaasen’s 28-ball 47 sealed a commanding six-wicket victory with 10 balls to spare. 

LSG’s innings featured strong contributions from Mitchell Marsh (65 runs off 39 balls), Aiden Markram (61 runs off 38 balls), and Nicholas Pooran (45 runs off 26 balls), but their bowlers could not contain SRH’s relentless chase.

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