The Delhi Premier League 2025 Eliminator has been in the news for a heated on-field altercation involving Indian Premier League stars Nitish Rana and Digvesh Rathi.
between the duo took place during the second innings of the match when Rana was at the crease, attempting to chase down the 201-run total.
Rathi, who has gained a reputation for disrupting batters by pulling out of his run-up mid-stride since IPL 2025, tried the same tactic against Rana at a crucial moment.
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But the southpaw wasn't willing to play along, so when Rathi came in to bowl the next delivery, Rana turned the tables by pulling out himself.
Moments later, the 31-year-old batter skillfully hit the leggie for a switch-hit that went for a six. Rana performed the bowler's signature 'notebook' celebration on his bat. The duo exchanged heated words at the end of the over and almost threw punches before teammates and the umpire separated them.
READ: ‘He started it’: Nitish Rana opens up on on-field spat with Digvesh Rathi
Since the row with Rathi in the DPL game, Rana shared a cryptic photograph of himself embracing his child, whose index finger is on his lips, as if to send a message to remain silent.
Nitish Rana receives support from former KKR team-mates
Cricketers across the globe were quick to react to the cute yet cryptic photograph on Instagram. Rana's former KKR team-mates, Phil Salt, Harshit Rana and Suyash Sharma showed their support.
While Harshit commented, "Yeh hui na baat (That's more like it)". Salt, on the other hand, wrote: "Rana jit."
Suyash Sharma also joined the bandwagon and wrote: "That's why I always call you Badshah."