The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 serves as a platform for players young and old, local and overseas to rub shoulders on the premier stage of T20 cricket. As a result, it also offers players who’ve clashed in the past to make a truce. Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds were involved in the infamous ‘Monkeygate’, but bruised the hatchet during their stint together at Mumbai Indians. A similar episode seems to have happened between Delhi Capitals’ (DC) experienced batter Nitish Rana and Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) controversial spinner Digvesh Rathi.
Rana and Rathi had nearly come to blows during a Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2025 game after a heated on-field spat. Many fans had expected a continuation of the rivalry with DC taking on LSG in their opening IPL 2026 game.
However, with the aid of LSG captain Rishabh Pant, it appears that Rana and Rathi have put the animosity behind them.
In a video shared by Lucknow Super Giants on social media, Rana and Rathi can be seen sharing a laugh ahead of their game on Wednesday, with Pant also joining the duo.
The meet-up the internet ordered pic.twitter.com/2eDeKETnvB
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) March 31, 2026
“Tu kaha ja raha hai? Bas ho gaya (Where are you going? That’s enough),” Pant can be seen telling Digvesh.
“Tere saath baithna padega. Aana padega tujhe (I’ll have to sit with you. You have to come),” said Rana to the LSG spinner.
India’s left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who also plays for DC, joined the trio and made a joke towards Pant for trying to play peacemaker.
“Bohot gyaan de diya (You’ve lectured a lot),” Kuldeep told Pant in a humorous manner.
LSG and DC face off in their opening game of IPL 2026. Both sides missed out on the playoffs in 2025. Pant, in particular, will be at the centre of attention, and will be eager to justify his Rs 27 crore price tag after a disappointing 2025 campaign.