Sunil Gavaskar References Virat Kohli While Slamming Digvesh Rathi For His Notebook Send Off

Digvesh Singh Rathi, a spinner for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), was chastised by former India captain Sunil Gavaskar for celebrating after taking a wicket against the Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 match.

Inquiring about Digvesh Singh Rathi's response, the renowned cricketer also mentioned Virat Kohli, saying that such expressive gestures are superfluous.

Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, the openers for PBSK, contributed 26 runs as they chased 172 for the win. On the first ball of the third over, Digvesh Rathi gave up a four to Priyansh. But three balls later, Digvesh got rid of him. Rathi sent him off with a "Notebook celebration" gesture after the wicket.

Digvesh Rathi’s unnecessary celebrations to send off Priyansh Arya; BCCI fines LSG spinner

Digvesh Singh Rathi, a bowler for the Lucknow Super Giants, was disciplined severely by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for violating the IPL Code of Conduct.

Digvesh was given a one demerit point and fined 25% of his match expenses for his emotional notebook celebration following the dismissal of young PBKS batsman Priyansh Arya.

"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," BCCI said in a statement after the LSG vs PBKS match.

Everything happened in the penultimate ball of the PBKS chase's third over. Digvesh gave Arya a brief but broad delivery. The left-hander ended up top-edging the ball after attempting the pull stroke with little foot movement. Shardul Thakur made a quick catch after running from mind-on.

Here is the video:

#DigveshRathi provides the breakthrough as #PriyanshArya heads back!

P.S: Don't miss the celebration at the end! 👀✍🏻

Watch LIVE action of #LSGvPBKS ➡ https://t.co/GLxHRDQajv#IPLOnJiostar | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi & JioHotstar! | #IndianPossibleLeague pic.twitter.com/TAhHDtXX8n

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 1, 2025

We Know What Virat Kohli Did After That: Sunil Gavaskar slams Digvesh Rathi for his notebook celebration

The commentator at the time, Sunil Gavaskar, took offense to Digvesh Singh Rathi's raucous celebration. According to Gavaskar, such responses are only warranted when a batter's tremendous hit is followed by a wicket.

"I can understand the celebration if the wicket comes after the batsman hits a boundary or a six in the previous ball. As a bowler, you've got six deliveries. So if you get 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,” Sunil Gavaskar said on commentary during the match.

Another commentator brought up Kesrick Williams's well-known farewell to Virat Kohli during the 2017 Twenty20 International series. Williams had used a similar motion to celebrate eliminating Kohli. In the following game, Kohli hit him for several boundaries to imitate the celebration.

Kohli had settled the score in style, Sunil Gavaskar said with a giggle.

"We know what Kohli did after that. He hit him for a boundary after boundary after boundary...(laughs)," Sunil Gavaskar replied.

Graeme Swann - This celebration was like from a Westindies cricketer Kesrick Williams. (On Digvesh Rathi celebrations).

Sunil Gavaskar - "After that, Virat Kohli did that celebrations superbly after hitting boundary after boundary after boundary". pic.twitter.com/WTGuENxrnP

— Nishu Gautam (@NishuGautam10) April 1, 2025

Also Read: LSG’s Zaheer Khan Accuses Lucknow Curator Of Preparing Pitches For Oppositions