Digvesh Rathi: The Ultimate 'Kaleshi' Of IPL 2025 Whose Notebook Celebration Needs To Be Studied – News18

In an IPL encounter between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) where a combined total of 472 runs were plundered by the two teams at the Eden Gardens, it was Digvesh Rathi who somehow managed to hog much of the spotlight. As it turned out, LSG spinner brought back his signature notebook celebration after dismissing the KKR opener Sunil Narine on Tuesday. KKR were handed a daunting task by LSG to chase 239 and all-rounder Narine who was scoring at a brisk rate (30 off 13) was undone by Rathi in the seventh over of the second innings when KKR were cruising in their run chase at 91/1. A moment to celebrate, Rathi marked the prized dismissal with a notebook celebration by “writing" down the name in his book and striking it off. So why exactly has the LSG bowler spun controversy and why are cricket fans calling Rathi “Kaleshi" of IPL 2025?

Digvesh Rathi first caught the attention of fans and BCCI during an IPL game played between Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings where the leg spinner brought out the notebook celebration to send off his Delhi mate Priyansh Arya by standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Arya and proceeded to strike off his name. The notebook celebration has been popularised by West Indies pacer Kesrick Williams.
Digvesh Rathi and Priyansh Arya are friends so no need to worry.Btw loved the celebration 😭😂 pic.twitter.com/wE6CkqP2A1— Harsh (@HARSHOP876) April 1, 2025
What seemed like a harmless banter between two friends wasn’t received well by BCCI and Rathi was swiftly penalised. In its media advisory dated April 2, BCCI summoned Rathi with a fine of 25% of his match fees and handed him one demerit point for breaching IPL Code of Conduct. This was Level 1 offence under Article 2.5.
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“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.Digvesh Singh admitted to the Level 1 offence under Article 2.5 and accepted the Match Referee’s sanction. For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee’s decision is final and binding," the advisory read.

When everyone thought Digvesh Rathi had taken a note of the penalty issued by BCCI, the LSG bowler once again stunned watchers when he broke into his “controversial" celebration when he got Mumbai Indians’ Naman Dhir out. This time the spinner did not walk up to the batter but celebrated with his fictitious notebook at a distance nonetheless.
This time, however, BCCI doubled down on its fine. In its statement issued on April 5, Rathi was slapped with 50% of his match fees. The 25-year-old player was handed two demerit points this time, taking his count to three demerit points.
Digvesh Rathi Strikes! 🔥📖 Naman Dhir falls just short of his fifty, bowled for 46(24). Another wicket, another notebook celebration from Rathi! ✍️💥#MIvLSG #LSGvsMI #IPL2025 #TATAIPL pic.twitter.com/kSgWOq23JM
— IPL Mantra (@IPL_Mantra) April 4, 2025
“Digvesh Singh, Bowler, Lucknow Super Giants has been fined 50 per cent of his match fees for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during his team’s match against Mumbai Indians at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Friday. This was his second Level 1 offence under Article 2.5 this season and hence, he has accumulated Two Demerit Points, in addition to One Demerit Point which he accumulated during LSG’s match against Punjab Kings on April 01, 2025. For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee’s decision is final and binding," the statement read.
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Article 2.5 of IPL Code of Conduct states that a player could celebrate in an “appropriate" fashion that did not provoke the dismissed batter during the send-off.
“Article 2.5 includes any language, action or gesture used by a Player and directed towards a batter upon his/her dismissal which has the potential to provoke an aggressive reaction from the dismissed batter, whether or not any reaction results, or which could be considered to disparage or demean
the dismissed batter, regardless of whether the batter him/herself feels disparaged or demeaned (in other words, a ‘send-off’)."
It’s worth reminding that Rathi could potentially earn more demerit point(s) for his celebration on Tuesday while seeing off KKR’s Sunil Narine. This could lead to a match ban.

IPL fans love it. For they believe Digvesh Rathi’s notebook send-off is tame and harmless for the most part but one that has also brought them entertainment at a time when players’ actions on the field are heavily scrutinised.
“This guy Digvesh is unstoppable and he has something which most of the cricketers don’t have …it’s called SPINE. The guy was fined twice but that didn’t stop him. I like this mindset.. He is a captain material already at least he will stand up for his own team mates. I hope he stays this way and doesn’t become bootlicker like some of his teammates (sic)," an X user commented.
Man's getting paid only to donate it all back to IPL pic.twitter.com/UHL9YkvXIK— Heisenberg ☢ (@internetumpire) April 8, 2025
“If I was Pant, I would tell him to keep at it and that I’ll take care of the fines. That’s what good captains who are earning 27 cr do for the culture," another IPL fan added.
“These kinds of players make this sport more enjoyable. I seriously hope he is not fined for this celebration or else just scrap this league ffs (sic)," chimed a third user.
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While meeting his “idol" Sunil Narine, Rathi’s LSG teammate Nicholas Pooran quizzed the bowler as to why he celebrated when his idol, Narine, didn’t. “Because I am from Delhi," Rathi cheekily responded.
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