Respect for Nitish Rana Has Grown, Says R. Ashwin After DPL Clash With Digvesh Rathi
The Delhi Premier League Eliminator produced drama both on and off the field. Nitish Rana and Digvesh Rathi were at the centre of a heated exchange that almost turned into a physical fight.
They both were later fined by the league for breaking the code of conduct. But what caught attention was the way Rana handled the incident afterwards. India veteran Ravichandran Ashwin said that his respect for Rana had only grown after the way he spoke about the matter that happened.
The Clash Between Rana And Rathi
Rana was leading West Delhi Lions in the knockout game. Rathi was playing for South Delhi Superstars. During the chase Rana smashed a six and responded with Rathi trademark notebook celebration.
Before that both players had already exchanged words. The act sparked a confrontation between the two. Players stepped in quickly to avoid the situation from becoming physical.
Rana later admitted that he was provoked but also accepted that both players were trying hard for their teams. The match had high stakes and the emotions were also visible.
Rana said that he has always played his cricket with aggression and he will never stay quiet if someone tries to poke him. He also said that he did not want to share only his side of the story because that would be unfair.
Ashwin Praises Rana Reaction
Ashwin spoke about the incident on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat. He said that he felt people were upset that a bowler like Digvesh Rathi was showing personality. But he stressed that characters in cricket should be welcomed.
He admitted that the fault might have been with the spinner but he praised Rana for the way he handled questions.
According to Ashwin, Nitish Rana could have easily put all the blame on Rathi. But instead he chose to highlight that both were only trying to win for their teams. Ashwin said that this showed maturity and leadership.
He called Rana’s handling of the matter amazing. He also said that the respect for Rana had grown in his eyes after this episode.
Rana Statement After The Game
Rana told reporters that both players were fighting to help their sides. He explained that Rathi had initiated the issue but he was not the type to keep quiet when provoked.
He said that he had been in fights before. According to him he was never the one to start the fights. His style of cricket has always been aggressive. He also added that while he can be drawn into battles on the field he always keeps the respect for the game intact.
Rana’s performance with the bat backed up his words. He smashed 134 runs from just 55 balls. His innings included 15 sixes and made the difference in the chase. West Delhi Lions chased down 202 with ease and knocked out South Delhi Superstarz. It was Rana who had the last laugh as his team advanced to the next stage.
Penalties And League Action
The Delhi Premier League committee reviewed the incident. Both players were charged under different levels of the code of conduct. Digvesh Rathi was fined 80 percent of his match fee for a Level 2 offence.
Nitish Rana was fined 50 percent for a Level 1 offence. These fines charged on people are a reminder that heated moments should not cross the line.
Despite the punishments the cricket continued. West Delhi Lions moved on to play East Delhi Riders in Qualifier 2. They won that game as well.
Later they faced Central Delhi Kings in the final and won by six wickets. Rana once again played a big part in guiding his team to success.
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