Lucknow Super Giants spinner Digvesh Rathi’s nasty “write-off” gesture against Punjab Kings batter Priyansh Arya hasn’t gone down well with Sunil Gavaskar. The batting legend slammed Rathi for being nasty, adding that it might have been harmless, but there was no need for Rathi to use his gesture against Arya. After dismissing Arya, Rathi ran up to him to celebrate in the LSG vs PBKS match in IPL 2025.
“Do batters give such send-offs after hitting a boundary? This would suggest he did not expect to take a wicket,” Gavaskar said on air during commentary.
#DigveshRathi provides the breakthrough as #PriyanshArya heads back!
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 1, 2025
P.S: Don't miss the celebration at the end!
Watch LIVE action of #LSGvPBKShttps://t.co/GLxHRDQajv#IPLOnJiostar | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi & JioHotstar! | #IndianPossibleLeague pic.twitter.com/TAhHDtXX8n
Incidentally, both Rathi and Arya are from Delhi. Gavaskar said he would never do this to a bowler after scoring runs off him.
Graeme Swann quickly pointed out that the celebration was like that of a West Indies cricketer, Kesrick Williams. In the showdown between Williams and Virat Kohli in a T20I in 2017, Kohli went after him and mocked that celebration.
Gavaskar also pointed out that the “notebook celebration” did not end well for the West Indian bowler. Kohli smashed a flurry of boundaries to win the game for India.
“After that, Virat Kohli did that celebration superbly after hitting boundary after boundary after boundary,” Gavaskar added.
No friendship on the field!
— InsideSport (@InsideSportIND) April 1, 2025One Delhi player dismisses another and celebrates in style!
: JioHotstar#IPL2025 #LSGvsPBKS #DigveshRathi #PriyanshArya #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/V4c3PWmEEM
Digvesh Rathi vs Priyansh Arya
In the third over, LSG captain Rishabh Pant brought on Rathi to bowl to PBKS openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh. Arya hit Rathi for a boundary in the first ball and was dropped in the slip in the second delivery.
However, Rathi dismissed Arya, who was looking dangerous. Rathi bowled short outside off and as Arya tried to take him on, he was caught at mid-on by Shardul Thakur.
Rathi followed the dismissal with an aggressive celebration, taunting Arya with a write-off gesture. It could also be interpreted as a jab at his paycheck. Arya was bought by Punjab Kings for a whopping Rs. 3.8 crore. Rathi, his Delhi teammate, only got Rs 30 lakh. The on-field umpire quickly intervened, warning Rathi.
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer also criticised Rathi for the gesture, asking him to become a star first.
“What was that signing off celebration all about by digvesh rathi …really stupid… not even big stars do something like this…Arrogant celebration…Star toh ban jao pehle,” Wasim Jaffer tweeted.
In the LSG vs PBKS match, Lucknow Super Giants set a 172-run target after Nicholas Pooran hit 44 and another Delhi boy, Ayush Badoni, scored 41. After a wonderful IPL debut with 47 runs, Priyansh Arya fell early in the chase, scoring 8 off 9 balls.
