In a dramatic turn of events during the IPL 2025 clash between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, an on-field altercation between LSG spinner Digvesh Rathi and SRH opener Abhishek Sharma escalated beyond the boundary ropes, prompting BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla to step in.
The incident began when Rathi celebrated Abhishek’s dismissal with his trademark “notebook celebration” after the SRH batter had blazed 59 runs off just 20 balls. The fiery send-off did not sit well with Abhishek, who responded with an aggressive verbal exchange. Match officials and teammates quickly intervened to defuse the tension.
However, the confrontation did not end there. During the post-match handshake, LSG assistant coach Vijay Dahiya briefly stopped Abhishek for a discussion, after which the batter proceeded to shake hands with Rathi. Eyewitnesses reported another intense verbal exchange between the two players before Dahiya unexpectedly slapped Abhishek from behind, further escalating the situation.
Following the match, Rajeev Shukla mediated discussions between both players in an effort to ease tensions. Abhishek, speaking at the post-match presentation, downplayed the altercation, saying, “I spoke to him after the game, and it is all good now.”
Despite the off-field drama, Abhishek’s performance was instrumental in SRH’s six-wicket victory, which eliminated LSG from playoff contention. The opener struck six sixes and four boundaries during his aggressive innings, helping chase down a 200-plus target and secure just the fourth win of the season for SRH. With 373 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 192.26, including a century and two half-centuries, Abhishek remains SRH’s top scorer this season.
