DPL | Nitish Rana hits back at Digvesh Rathi – ‘If someone pokes me, I won’t sit quietly’

NEW DELHI:Nitish Rana has broken his silence on his on-field altercation with Digvesh Rathi during the Delhi Premier League 2025 (DPL) Eliminator at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. A video of the fiery exchange has gone viral, showing Rana having a heated conversation with Rathi before mocking the wrist-spinner’s signature celebration by imitating it on his bat after smashing him for a six.In the Eliminator match, Nitish Rana produced a match-winning unbeaten 134 off just 55 deliveries, guiding his side to a successful chase of 202 with 17 balls remaining and seven wickets in hand.“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," Rana said in a media interaction."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,” he added.Rana pointed out that he didn’t start the fight with Rathi, who was one of the finds of the IPL season earlier this year.“The one who starts it, it’s in their hands to end it. I’ve been in many fights so far; it’s not like I haven’t."But till today, I’ve never initiated anything. Yes, if someone says something to me first, I always respond, and that’s my way,” said Rana."That’s how I’ve been brought up. My parents taught me that if you’re not wrong, then you should stand up for yourself, and that’s exactly what I do, and I’ll keep doing it in the future too,” he added.Nitish Rana-led West Delhi Lions will take on Central Delhi Kings in the DPL 2025 final on Sunday.