Abhishek Sharma Clashes with Digvesh Rathi After Heated Send-Off; Umpires and Rishabh Pant Intervene

IPL 2025: The heated clash between LSG spinner Digvesh Rathi and SRH batter Abhishek Sharma. The mid-match duel escalated even after the match, forcing BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla to take charge.

The drama began when Rathi celebrated the way he usually does after dismissing Abhishek, who smashed 59 runs off 20 balls. The aggressive send-off did not sit well with the Sunrisers opener, who erupted at what unfolded and started unleashing a barrage at Rathi, which then caused a heated exchange that was broken up quickly by umpires and teammates.

But this action was not the end of it. At the post-match handshake between both teams, Abhishek was stopped by LSG assistant coach Vijay Dahiya for a brief discussion with the India batter, after which Abhishek continued with shaking the hands of the other players, including Rathi. The two were seen engaged in conversation again, until Dahiya walked in from behind and slapped Abhishek.

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Later, Shukla became a mediator after the match, as he was spotted discussing with both Abhishek and Rathi.

Abhishek talked about his altercation with Rathi on the field after his game-winning performance in Lucknow helped Sunrisers defeat Lucknow. He said that the two players spoke after the game and everything was fine.

Abhishek smashed six maximums and four boundaries in his blazing 20-ball knock that set up the six-wicket win for Sunrisers, only their fourth win this season.

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Speaking after the match in the post-match presentation, "I spoke to him after the game, and it is all good now (on his altercation with Digvesh)."

Expanding on his batting, he added, "If we batted first, I might have had other plans, but chasing such a total, we had a clear plan. If you ask any player who has been doing well for the team, chasing 200-plus something you should be able to win the powerplay. I wanted to express myself, and if I do well, I know the team is gonna do well as well. It was the same plan I had in international cricket as well. Just express myself and knock it around."

Abhishek has been SRH's top run-getter this season with 373 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 192.26. He has scored a century and two fifties, with the best score of 141.

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