IPL 2025 Drama: Abhishek Sharma-Digvesh Rathi Clash Echoes Pollard-Starc Feud
In the fast-paced, high-stakes world of the Indian Premier League (IPL), on-field tempers often flare as brightly as the stadium floodlights. The latest chapter of drama unfolded during the IPL 2025 clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Monday night, where a fiery exchange between SRH batter Abhishek Sharma and LSG bowler Digvesh Rathi stole the headlines. But as tempers flared, fans couldn’t help but draw parallels to one of the most infamous spats in IPL history—between Kieron Pollard and Mitchell Starc in 2014. Let’s unravel the drama, both past and present, that keeps the IPL as much about passion as it is about skill.
IPL 2025: Sparks Fly Between Abhishek and Digvesh
The tension ignited in the eighth over of SRH’s chase at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Digvesh Rathi, the young LSG spinner, dismissed Abhishek Sharma with a peach of a delivery, sending the batter back for a modest 23 runs off 18 balls. What followed was Rathi’s signature ‘notebook celebration’—a gesture mimicking writing down the dismissal as if to say, ‘You’re history.’ This didn’t sit well with Abhishek, who retorted with sharp words, leading to a heated confrontation. The situation escalated quickly, with umpires and LSG captain Rishabh Pant stepping in to defuse the tension.
In the aftermath, the IPL disciplinary committee acted swiftly. Rathi was slapped with a hefty fine of 50 percent of his match fee and handed two demerit points, resulting in a one-match suspension for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct under Article 2.5 (provocative behavior). Abhishek, meanwhile, was fined 25 percent of his match fee for his verbal retort, classified as a Level 1 offense. Both players have accepted the sanctions, with no further appeals expected.
Echoes of the Past: Pollard vs Starc in IPL 2014
While the Abhishek-Digvesh spat had fans buzzing on social media, it pales in comparison to some of the IPL’s most iconic on-field battles. One such incident, often cited as the benchmark of IPL drama, occurred on May 6, 2014, during a match between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Wankhede Stadium. The protagonists? West Indian powerhouse Kieron Pollard and Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc.
The clash began when Starc bowled a fiery bouncer at Pollard, who missed an attempted hook shot. Harsh words were exchanged as Starc approached Pollard, who waved him off dismissively. The tension peaked on the next delivery. As Starc ran in to bowl, Pollard backed away outside the leg stump at the last moment, seemingly to unsettle the bowler. Unfazed, Starc delivered the ball aggressively near Pollard’s legs, prompting the batter to swing his bat in frustration—almost as if threatening to hurl it at Starc—before accidentally dropping it. Both players continued their verbal volleys, with the atmosphere electric with hostility.
Later in the match, Starc had the last laugh, running Pollard out in a dramatic fashion. As Pollard scrambled to make his ground, Starc taunted him before dislodging the bails, adding insult to injury. The fallout saw Pollard fined 75 percent of his match fee, while Starc was docked 50 percent for their roles in the unsportsmanlike conduct. This incident remains etched in IPL lore, replayed endlessly on highlight reels as a reminder of the thin line between aggression and antagonism.
IPL’s History of Heated Moments
The IPL has never been short of on-field fireworks. From Harbhajan Singh’s infamous slap on S Sreesanth in the inaugural 2008 season to the more recent Virat Kohli-Naveen-ul-Haq spat in 2023, which also dragged in mentor Gautam Gambhir, the league thrives on raw emotion. According to IPL records, over 50 on-field altercations have resulted in fines or suspensions since the league’s inception, a testament to the competitive spirit—and occasional volatility—of the world’s premier T20 tournament.
Conclusion: A Fine Balance in IPL
As the dust settles on the Abhishek Sharma-Digvesh Rathi clash in IPL 2025, one thing is clear: the league’s ability to captivate lies not just in breathtaking sixes or pinpoint yorkers, but in the human drama that unfolds on the field. Much like the Pollard-Starc episode over a decade ago, these moments remind us that cricket is as much about heart as it is about skill. Yet, with hefty fines and suspensions serving as deterrents, the question remains—will players temper their aggression, or will the IPL continue to be a battleground of emotions? Only time, and the next fiery over, will tell.