In a high-intensity IPL showdown at Ekana Stadium, emotions ran high as Sunrisers Hyderabad’s explosive opener Abhishek Sharma and Lucknow Super Giants spinner Digvesh Rathi clashed on the field. The flashpoint occurred after Rathi dismissed Abhishek in the eighth over and followed it up with his trademark notebook celebration, accompanied by some pointed words that didn’t sit well with the SRH batter.
Abhishek, who had just delivered a blistering knock of 59 off 20 balls laced with 6 towering sixes and 4 boundaries, was visibly infuriated. He charged towards Digvesh, and the two players exchanged heated words before umpires and Sunrisers skipper Rishabh Pant intervened to defuse the situation.
Tensions remained even during the post-match handshake where Abhishek continued to express his displeasure. Lucknow’s coach Vijay Dahiya had to step in to ensure the confrontation didn’t escalate further.
Despite the fiery moment, the match proceeded with great excitement. Chasing a stiff target of 206, Sunrisers Hyderabad cruised to victory in just 18.2 overs, scoring 206/4. Heinrich Klaasen (47) and Kamindu Mendis (32, retired hurt) steadied the innings after Abhishek’s early assault, while Nitish Kumar Reddy and Aniket Verma finished off the chase comfortably.
Earlier, LSG put up a strong total, thanks to a brilliant 115-run opening partnership between Mitchell Marsh (65 off 39) and Aiden Markram (61 off 38). Nicholas Pooran gave the finishing touches with a fiery 45 off 26 balls. However, the middle overs saw a slowdown, especially during Eshan Malinga’s economical spell of 4 overs for 28 runs. Rishabh Pant struggled yet again, contributing only 7 runs.
Digvesh Rathi, despite the controversy, was the standout bowler for Lucknow, taking two crucial wickets—Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan (35). But the effort was not enough as LSG crashed out of playoff contention, marking their fourth straight defeat this season.
With SRH registering a commanding win, the spotlight remained on the intense face-off between two rising stars, adding another dramatic chapter to the IPL 2025 season.
