During an intense Indian Premier League (IPL) match, Lucknow Super Giants' Digvesh Rathi's celebration after dismissing Punjab Kings' Priyansh Arya drew criticism.

Rathi's perceived disrespectful gesture has generated significant debate, particularly among commentators like Sunil Gavaskar who disapproved of the action.

During IPL 2025's 13th match in Lucknow, a high-priced player, Priyansh Arya (INR 3.8 crore), faced off against his former Delhi teammate, Rathi (INR 30 lakh).

Arya, dismissed early, attempted another aggressive shot but mistimed it, resulting in a straightforward catch. Rathi's celebratory gesture towards Arya, interpreted by some as mocking, provoked mixed reactions from the audience.

Sunil Gavaskar publicly criticized a viral moment, deeming the action both unnecessary and offensive. His criticism wasn't limited to social media; he voiced his disapproval on television.

"Do batters give send-offs after hitting a four?" Gavaskar asked during commentary.

"This tells me he didn't even expect to get a wicket. I would never do something like that after hitting a bowler."

Cricket commentator Graeme Swann drew a parallel between a celebratory action and Kesrick Williams' notorious "notebook" celebration, which backfired spectacularly when Virat Kohli responded aggressively in 2017. Sunil Gavaskar then highlighted the outcome of that incident, where Kohli's powerful batting and retaliatory celebration overshadowed Williams'.

Both Rathi and Arya, both from Delhi, were involved in an incident during a match. Arya's substantial salary increase contrasted with Rathi's ongoing career progression, leading to an interpretation of the celebration as overly personal. The umpire intervened, issuing Rathi a warning.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) comfortably achieved their 172-run target against Gujarat Titans (GT), despite GT's early wicket of Arya. Prabhsimran Singh's quick 69 and Shreyas Iyer's half-century powered PBKS to victory in under 17 overs.