Subhechcha Ganguly 
Former India opener Virender Sehwag has criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for what he termed as “selective punishment” in the Indian Premier League (IPL), following the one-match suspension of Lucknow Super Giants’ leg-spinner Digvesh Singh Rathi.
Rathi was banned for a game after a heated on-field altercation with Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Abhishek Sharma. While Abhishek received a fine and demerit points, it was Rathi who bore the brunt of disciplinary action. The decision has drawn sharp reactions, with Sehwag calling the punishment excessive and inconsistent with how similar incidents involving senior players have been handled in the past.
“I thought the ban was a bit harsh,” Sehwag said while speaking on Cricbuzz. “The boy is playing in his first year in the IPL. MS Dhoni once barged into the ground, and he wasn’t banned. Virat Kohli has argued with umpires on multiple occasions, and he was never suspended. So why this strictness for a youngster just starting his career?”
Sehwag was referring to a high-profile incident during the 2019 IPL, when Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni stormed onto the field during a match against Rajasthan Royals to confront the umpires over a disputed no-ball. Dhoni escaped with just a 50% fine on his match fee.
Sehwag’s remarks have reignited the debate on whether cricketing authorities apply different standards when dealing with high-profile names versus emerging players. “If Dhoni and Kohli were let off with fines, Digvesh could have been given the same treatment. It’s about consistency and fairness,” Sehwag added.
The BCCI has yet to issue a response to Sehwag’s comments.
