In a dramatic showdown between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) during their IPL 2025 clash on Monday, tensions boiled over when LSG spinner Digvesh Rathi dismissed Abhishek Sharma in the eighth over. After sending the SRH opener back with a deep-field catch, Digvesh performed his signature notebook celebration.
The gesture didn’t sit well with Abhishek, triggering a heated verbal spat between the two. The umpires had to step in swiftly to defuse the situation as emotions ran high. Digvesh’s animated gestures sparked a strong verbal retaliation from Abhishek, adding a fiery edge to an already intense match.
Fortunately, the hostility appeared short-lived. Once the game concluded, both players were seen shaking hands, suggesting the confrontation was no more than a heat-of-the-moment flare-up. They even exchanged a few words in a calmer tone post-match, before their interaction was briefly interrupted by BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla.
Here are the photos:
On the cricketing front, Abhishek Sharma had already made his presence felt before the incident, smashing 59 off just 20 deliveries. His blistering knock, studded with four boundaries and six towering sixes, laid the foundation for Hyderabad’s emphatic six-wicket win over Lucknow. Chasing a target of 206, SRH reached the finish line with ten balls to spare, thanks to Abhishek’s explosive start.
After his departure in the eighth over, Heinrich Klaasen and Kamindu Mendis took charge. Klaasen’s 47 and Mendis’ unbeaten 32 (before retiring hurt) stitched together a crucial 55-run stand for the fourth wicket, bringing Hyderabad within striking distance of victory.
With this defeat, Lucknow Super Giants became the fifth team to crash out of playoff contention. The loss also sharpened the battle for the remaining playoff berth, now left to be decided between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals. Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have already secured their spots for the playoffs, which commence on May 29.
