West Delhi Lions skipper and former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Nitish Rana has finally spoken about the heated exchange with South Delhi Superstarz leg-spinner Digvesh Rathi during the Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2025 Eliminator. Rana clarified that it was Rathi who initiated the spat, adding that he has been taught never to back down when he knows he isn’t in the wrong.
The incident unfolded when Digvesh Rathi came into the attack and Rana dispatched a sweep shot over the ropes for six. The leg-spinner responded with a few words, prompting a fiery reaction from the Lions captain. The confrontation quickly intensified before the on-field umpire and fellow players stepped in to defuse the situation.
During a subsequent media interaction, Rana refused to disclose the exact trigger of the altercation but stressed that he won’t remain silent if provoked. As quoted by India Today, he remarked:
“It’s not about who’s right or wrong, he came to win the match for his team, and I came to win for mine. But respecting the game of cricket is my responsibility, and it’s his as well. He was the one who started it, I won’t say how or what happened, because that would be unfair.”
“But yes, if someone pokes me or gets in my face, I’m not someone who will just sit quietly. Because this is how I’ve always played my cricket. If someone pokes me, and they think they’ll get me out by provoking me, then I can also hit back with sixes. What happened yesterday was an example of that.”
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Nitish Rana’s Blitz Sends West Delhi Lions Into DPL 2025 Final
In Qualifier 2, Nitish Rana once again played a key role for the West Delhi Lions, smashing 45 runs off just 26 deliveries to guide his team in a successful chase of 140. The Lions wrapped up the win with eight wickets in hand and over two overs still left. Ayush Doseja stayed unbeaten on 54, while Krish Yadav contributed a quick 37 from 25 balls.
For the East Delhi Riders, Arpit Rana’s 50 off 38 deliveries was the standout effort, but it proved insufficient as the total fell short. With this win, the Lions booked their place in the DPL 2025 final, where they will face the Central Delhi Kings on Sunday, August 31.
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