‘No need to do that’ – Sunil Gavaskar disapproves Harshit Rana’s aggressive celebration after Mayank Agarwal’s wicket

Harshit’s reaction after Mayank’s wicket ( Photo source : X / Twitter )

In a fiery third game of the IPL 2024 between Kolkata Knight Riders and SunRisers Hyderabad, a moment of exhilaration turned controversial, sparking a debate on sportsmanship. The spotlight fell on Harshit Rana, the young pacer from Kolkata Knight Riders, whose fiery celebration after dismissing Mayank Agarwal of Sunrisers Hyderabad caught the attention, and criticism, of none other than cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar.

Mayank Agarwal’s dismissal by Rana, showcased his prowess with a slower bouncer, breaking the rhythm of a threatening innings. However, not his bowling but his celebration drew the ire. Approaching Mayank, Rana’s jubilant gestures, including blowing a flying kiss, were seen as excessive by many, including Gavaskar.

Gavaskar, known for his astute observations, didn’t mince words, expressing his disapproval of Rana’s conduct.

“Couldn’t see any of that earlier on when he was hitting you for boundaries. No need to do that Mr. Rana. It’s just a wicket in cricket. The batter didn’t do that to him when he was hitting boundaries,” Gavaskar said emphasizing the need for composure and respect towards opponents as quoted by India Today.

As per Gavaskar, in the television era, there’s pressure to perform certain actions for visibility. However, it’s unnecessary to taunt opposition players during celebrations. 

“I know we are all in the television age. We need to be seen doing certain things. You can play cricket without doing that. By all means, celebrate. Celebrate with the team. But, there’s no need to do that to an opposition player,” the legendary batter added.

Coming to the match, Kolkata clinched a thrilling victory, largely thanks to a superbly bowled final over by none other than Harshit Rana. Despite conceding a massive six off the first ball of the over, with Kolkata Knight Riders needing just 13 runs to win, Rana displayed remarkable composure. In the subsequent five deliveries, he conceded only two runs while picking up two crucial wickets, securing the win for KKR by a close margin of four runs.