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"He Started First": Delhi Boy Nitish Rana Clears Air On Ugly Spat With Digvesh Rathi

Soumyajit Dutta

Nitish Rana's fight with Digvesh Rathi [Source: @DPLT20/X.com]Nitish Rana's fight with Digvesh Rathi [Source: @DPLT20/X.com]

Nitish Rana has finally spoken about his fiery on-field altercation with Digvesh Singh Rathi during the Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2025 eliminator at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The West Delhi Lions captain, who struck a match-winning century on the same night, clarified that while his focus was always on winning for his team, he could not ignore provocation.

Rana fiercely responds to Rathi fight

Nitish Rana, who also shared a cryptic Instagram post later after the massive win, cleared the air on his side while blaming the provocation by Rathi and his 'Delhi' origin.

“I’ve come to win the match for my team, Digvesh Rathi also has come to win the match for his team. But respecting cricket is my duty, and his duty too. But he started it first, and if someone provokes me or tries to show off, I’m not the kind to sit quietly. I was born and raised in Delhi, so if someone pokes me and tries to show off, I will respond and show them too,” Rana told Delhi Junction Sports after the incident.

What happened during the DPL eliminator?

The eliminator clash between West Delhi Lions and South Delhi Superstars turned dramatic when Digvesh Rathi, known for his animated wicket celebrations and heated exchanges, paused mid-run-up while bowling to Rana. 

The act disrupted Rana’s concentration, and on the very next ball, the left-hander mocked Rathi by pulling out in the same fashion.

Tensions escalated further when Rana smashed Rathi for a boundary and the two exchanged words. Broadcast cameras caught Rana charging at the spinner, asking “Kya hua?” before umpires and teammates intervened to avoid an ugly confrontation.

Fines follow the fight

Despite Nitish Rana’s heroics, the post-match spotlight remained on the heated altercation. Both Rana and Rathi were fined by the DPL disciplinary committee. 

Rathi lost 80 percent of his match fee for breaching the spirit of the game, while Rana was fined 50 percent for making offensive gestures. Other players, including Krish Yadav, Sumit Mathur and Aman Bharti, were also penalised for their involvement in the spat.