Sunil Gavaskar’s pointed on-air remarks about Akash Singh’s viral “chit” celebration during Lucknow Super Giants’ loss to Rajasthan Royals have sparked a fresh wave of online criticism. While some viewers agreed with the former India batter’s message about keeping celebrations grounded, others felt Gavaskar’s delivery crossed a line when it came to mocking a young bowler.
From CSK glory to RR scrutiny
- Akash Singh’s celebration first drew major attention after his spell against Chennai Super Kings, where he returned figures of 3/26 and then revealed a folded handwritten note as part of the aftermath.
- The note, shown after his wickets, read: “Akki on fire – Akash knows how to take wickets in T20 game.”
- In that CSK match, Akash’s wickets included Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson and Urvil Patel, making the celebration feel tightly linked to his impact with the ball.
- However, the same kind of display resurfaced during Lucknow’s next game versus Rajasthan Royals, and it quickly became a talking point again—this time for different reasons.
- Against RR, Akash Singh struggled to contain the chase, finishing with 1/54 from his three overs as Rajasthan chased down 221 with five balls to spare.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi then set the tone for the Royals’ pursuit with a destructive 93 off 38 deliveries, turning Lucknow’s defence into a one-sided chase.
During the match, Gavaskar made his disapproval clear. He asked, “Where’s the chit now—it’s in the pocket, right? Where is the chit? I like a bit of humility,” as the game moved away from Lucknow’s control. He also highlighted the contrast between the celebration and the bowler’s numbers, saying that in a single over a wicket might come on one ball, but within five deliveries the batter faced heavy punishment, with Akash conceding 48 runs in 17 balls.
Gavaskar then widened his argument to a broader pattern he believes is becoming too common in modern T20 cricket: players carrying handwritten notes specifically to trigger celebrations. He questioned how long such notes are kept and suggested that repeating the act too frequently can make it feel mechanical rather than earned. His view was that a celebration carries meaning when it follows genuine completion of the task, rather than when the same prop is used whenever a player gets one good moment.
That reasoning is what made Akash’s display vulnerable in the eyes of the commentator. The article also points to how other IPL players have used handwritten notes at key moments—Abhishek Sharma pulling out a note after a century for Sunrisers Hyderabad, dedicating it to the Orange Army; and Urvil Patel using a handwritten message after a 13-ball fifty for CSK, dedicating it to his father. Those instances were framed as more emotional or fan-facing, rather than as a self-referential statement about wicket-taking.
Debate erupts online after Gavaskar’s comments
Online reactions, though, were mixed. Several users agreed that the “chit” habit can become repetitive, but argued that Gavaskar’s focus on Akash in particular was unnecessary. One commenter said the irritation around players pulling out notes every other match had become familiar, yet “going after Akash Singh was uncalled for,” adding that critique of the trend is acceptable while ridicule of a young player is not.
Another user labelled Gavaskar an “aged troll,” claiming his approach reflected poor judgement despite the fact that he is a professional cricketer. A third post described Gavaskar as the “angry fufa of Indian cricket,” suggesting he is respected within the cricket family but often delivers opinions that people do not ask for.
A longer backlash post drew a line between Gavaskar as a legendary batsman and Gavaskar as a commentator, saying the two sides felt “completely different and contrasting” and that his current commentary persona had become a “pale shadow” of his earlier self. The post argued he was overreacting to what it considered harmless celebrations.
Even as the debate continued, the central point remained: whether handwritten notes are becoming too camera-friendly in the IPL, and how much weight cricket still places on performance over spectacle. For Akash Singh, the “chit” looked bold after his CSK success; against Rajasthan, it became an easier target once results went against him. For Gavaskar, his on-air criticism landed sharply—and online, the backlash returned just as quickly.
