Sunil Gavaskar, the former India captain and one of the country’s best-known cricket voices, is once again making headlines—this time for remarks that have sparked backlash online. His comments about Lucknow Super Giants speedster Akash Singh during the IPL 2026 match against Rajasthan Royals have gone viral, with a section of fans criticising the tone he used while discussing the young pacer’s on-field moment.
In the game on Tuesday, Singh had a night to forget as Rajasthan’s batters took control, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi standing out among the scorers. Singh finished with figures of 1/54 from his three overs, and Lucknow were unable to protect their total of 221. The defeat was their ninth of the season, leaving them in a difficult position as the league stage winds down.
The controversy centred on Gavaskar’s reaction to a wicket celebration Singh had earlier in the tournament. The 24-year-old had marked his dismissals against Chennai Super Kings with a “chit” gesture—pulling a note from his pocket that carried the message “Akki on fire – Akash knows how to take wickets in T20 game.” That celebration came after he removed Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Urvil Patel, turning the moment into a talking point among viewers.
During the Royals clash, Gavaskar questioned the appropriateness of such displays, especially in situations where the bowler has been punished for runs. He said on-air, “Where’s the chit now, it’s in the pocket right? Where is the chit? I like a bit of humility. In an over, you get a wicket in maybe one ball. Five balls you are being clobbered. He has given 48 runs in 17 deliveries.” He added, “How long do they carry the chit for? I mean if you carry everyday, it is bound to happen. If you carry it on a day and said that you do something and do it, then it is worth it.”
Despite the debate over celebration culture, many supporters felt Gavaskar’s language crossed a line. Several fans took to social media to argue that he was being overly harsh toward a youngster who was clearly going through a tough phase. One reaction read that Gavaskar the commentator and Gavaskar the former great are “two completely different and contrasting facets of the same person,” adding that while he had been an excellent broadcaster in earlier decades, his recent commentary has not matched the same standard. Another message insisted that while criticism of celebrations is acceptable, mocking a young player during a difficult spell was unnecessary.
With that match in the books, Lucknow Super Giants—currently bottom of the table—now shift focus to their final league-stage assignment. They will face Punjab Kings on Saturday at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, looking to end their campaign on a stronger note after a difficult run of results.
