Right now, the IPL is buzzing with energy, and we’re witnessing some really exciting moments on the cricket field. The games are not just about skill; some players are really pouring their heart into their celebrations, which is grabbing everyone’s attention. But, sometimes those celebrations can land players in a bit of trouble.
Take the Lucknow Super Giants‘ bowler, Digvesh Rathi, for example. His lively celebrations after taking wickets got him in some hot water. The BCCI decided to penalize him, which stirred up quite a bit of discussion. Former New Zealand player Simon Doull jumped in with his views, and he wasn’t shy about expressing his thoughts.
Doull wasn’t a fan of the penalties that Rathi faced. The IPL 2025 has been full of thrilling cricket, and while it’s all about enjoying the game, the fines for Rathi seemed a bit harsh to Doull. After Rathi celebrated one of his wickets too enthusiastically, he ended up with a pretty hefty fine – they docked part of his match fee and added a couple of demerit points to his record. Doull couldn’t help but notice how this seemed unfair, especially when he remembered how some senior Indian players have celebrated in similar ways without facing any fines. This raised a lot of questions about whether Rathi was being treated fairly.
Rathi’s tantrum did catch the spotlight, especially with his so-called ‘notebook celebration’. This all happened during a match against the Punjab Kings, where he got a little carried away after taking out Priyansh Arya. Those high-energy celebrations might be fun to watch, but they aren’t without consequences, as Rathi learned quickly. After that incident, he was slapped with a 25% deduction from his match fees and one demerit point. But things got even trickier for him when he did something similar against the Mumbai Indians after getting rid of Naman Dhir. This time, he was fined 50% of his match fees and got two more demerit points.
Seems like Rathi had to take a step back and think about his actions because when he faced off against KKR next, he toned down his celebrations quite a bit. It was like he finally realized what was at stake. Doull didn’t hold back when he said that he was disappointed about the whole fine situation. “The team’s going to be the one paying for this,” he said, clearly feeling for the young player. “I really enjoy the celebrations; I don’t think he did anything wrong at all. I’ve seen senior Indian players get way more in your face and not get fined! It feels like they’re just trying to make an example out of him for simply making a note in his notebook!”
In essence, this whole situation spurred a bigger conversation about how players should express themselves on the field and what the rules really are when it comes to celebrating. It’s a fine line between showing passion and getting penalized. At the end of the day, we’re all just here to enjoy the sport, and sometimes, a player’s spirit should be celebrated, too.
