Date: May 20, 2025
Match: TATA IPL 2025 – Match 61: LSG vs SRH
Stadium: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium, Lucknow
What started as a high-stakes, virtual knockout game for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has not only ended in despondency for LSG fans but also into punishment of two players, Digvesh Singh (LSG) and Abhishek Sharma (SRH). They were both charged with breaching the the IPL Code of Conduct for their actions in the match, with Digvesh Singh getting a one-match ban and Abhishek Sharma getting fined 25% of his match fee.
Let’s explore the complete story, what the breaches were, and what this means for the players and their teams.
The Incident: Code of Conduct Breaches Announced
Following Match 61, the IPL Governing Council released an official statement about the Code of Conduct breaches imposed on both players.
Digvesh Singh, one of the developing fast bowlers for Lucknow Super Giants, is to forfeit 50% of his match fees for a Level 1 breach under Article 2.5 of the IPL Code of Conduct. This is his third breach in the season, and only the third demerit point raising his total to five letting to an automatic one-match ban.
Abhishek Sharma, one of the explosive openers and all-rounders for Sunrisers Hyderabad, was fined 25% of his match fee for a Level 1 breach under Article 2.6 of the IPL Code of Conduct, and had One Demerit Point on his disciplinary record, his first of the season.
What Are Articles 2.5, and 2.6?
Article 2.5 of the IPL Code of Conduct deals with spokesperson uses language, actions or gestures that are made to disparage, or could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter when they are dismissed. This is generally related to a send off, sledging, or an unrestrained excessive celebration near the dismissed batter.
Article 2.6 is about inappropriate or intentional physical contact with another player, umpire, or official during the match.
Match referees decided whether Digvesh had yet again crossed the line, pushing him over the total more than five demerits points triggering a one-match ban, with with Abhishek’s offense being less serious it warranted a match fee and a note on his record.
Digvesh Singh: A Recurring Issue with Discipline
Digvesh Singh has certainly performed well this IPL season with the ball at times, but it’s his overall behavioral pattern on the field that is making headlines. He has received three Level 1 breaches this season:
April 1, 2025 vs Punjab Kings – One Demerit Point
April 4, 2025 vs Mumbai Indians – Two Demerit Points
May 20, 2025 vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – Two Demerit Points
He is now on record with Five Demerit Points and is the first player suspended for disciplinary action due the IPL rule this year. His one match suspension will mean Digvesh will not become available on May 22, 2025, for LSG’s fixture versus Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. This will have a significant effect at this crucial stage in LSG’s already fragile season.
Abhishek Sharma: First Offence, But Not Unnoticed
Although Abhishek Sharma was the player of the match scoring a whirlwind fifty off 18 balls, his action during the aftermath of the dismissal of the LSG player (or during a confrontation) drew the attention of officials. The Match Referee deemed this a level 1 infringement under Article 2.6. Although this is Sharma’s first disciplinary experience, the IPL has consistently applied and enforced its Code of Conduct this season. As a result, he has been deemed to have accumulated One Demerit Point, which is now on his record and cannot be removed until expiry, and could lead to further disciplinary points if he continues this pattern.
Implications on the Teams
LSG: More Problems in a Do-or-Die Situation
The suspension of Digvesh Singh has come at a time when LSG need to win against the Gujarat Titans. Losing their best pacer—who had just dismissed Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan on the weekend—is exactly not what LSG need during a must-win game. Their previous playoff hopes are already on a smoking mirror; losing Digvish could be the final nail in his coffin.
Worryingly, Singh’s failures to follow the Code of Conduct raise the question of what the dressing room situation is like at LSG; and how able are the coaches and leader are at managing younger players through pressure situations.
SRH: Unfortunate, But Game on
For the SRH franchise, the fine detected on Abhishek is unlikely to significantly affect their near-term plans, but does serve as a reminder to maintain composure in the heat of circumstances ahead of playoffs for their segments. Abhishek’s aggression is part of the appeal of watching him play, but they will be mindful to keep things within the playful domain, that doesn’t encroach further on Code of Conduct.
IPL’s Committed Approach: Zero tolerance to any Misconduct
The IPL has certainly taken a firm approach to maintain consistent standards concerning player behaviour by imposing penalties and sanctions when deemed necessary, if only to ensure the heart and spirit of the game is maintained. It was a particularly pointed message that what may seem like minor behaviour breaches are indeed supposed to merit a harsher penalty of One match suspension just for accumulating demerit points. Clearly, the IPL communicating that behavioural breach will not be tolerated.
It also serves as a reminder to franchises that there are no reasons for players to ‘cheat’ or push boundaries and coincide with application or performance and/or strategic development of coaching decisions for competing teams in IPL.
Wrap-up
Match 61 of IPL 2025 will be remembered as much for SRH’s win over LSG, but also the subsequent disciplinary action with Digvesh Singh suffering the consequences of his ongoing aggression and Abhishek Sharma having to be mindful moving forward.
With the tournament business end in IPL 2025 nearing, it is hard to remember we are in a pressure cooker environment with all games mattering, emotions boiling, and pressure dictating player performance.
It is extremely important that we keep the level of discipline in the games, but we also need to focus on discipline to maintain the integrity and fairness of a credible league.
Cricket is a very emotionally intense game, but the line between competitive aggression and inappropriate behaviour is actually very narrow, as we have seen, it can cause major consequences!
