NEW DELHI: While “chit celebrations” have taken over IPL talk—players flashing handwritten notes from their pockets after turning points—Deepak Chahar put a fresh, comic spin on the idea during Mumbai Indians’ meeting with Kolkata Knight Riders. The moment came in the middle of a tense spell when the bowler, after being hit hard early, turned the tables at the death and then staged a mock “note” reveal that had his own team in stitches.
Chahar’s improvised “chit” moment vs KKR
With Mumbai defending 147/8, Chahar started the innings under pressure. KKR opener Finn Allen struck him for successive boundaries, putting the pacer immediately on the back foot.
However, Chahar responded in the final ball of the over by removing Allen, changing the rhythm of the contest.
Right after the wicket, the right-arm pacer leaned into the trend with his own twist. Instead of producing a real slip, he pretended to pull out an imaginary handwritten “chit” from his pocket and gestured towards the stands, as if presenting it to the crowd.
His teammates were expecting the note to be real, and once they saw there was nothing in his hand, they erupted in laughter at the prank.
How the “chit celebration” trend grew across the IPL
The celebration has quickly become one of the defining off-the-field talking points of IPL 2026. It began when Abhishek Sharma marked his whirlwind century by drawing out a handwritten message that read: “This one is for Orange Army.”
Since that breakthrough, a number of players have added their own variations, including:
- Urvil Patel from Chennai Super Kings
- Raghu Sharma from Mumbai Indians
- Akash Maharaj Singh, the latest name to join the trend
Criticism follows the fun
Not everyone has been amused by the wave of pocket notes and on-field theatrics. Some former players have questioned the practicality—and the message—behind the gesture.
- Ambati Rayudu labelled it “rubbish and nonsense” and asked why players were carrying chits in their pockets during matches.
- Mitchell McClenaghan said he was “flabbergasted” by the trend.
- Dale Steyn also mocked the celebrations on social media, writing: “Time to put the papers away. It ain’t trending no more. Actually, to be honest, never really was.”
Match report: MI’s 147/8 and KKR’s bowling stand-out
On the field, Mumbai Indians struggled to build a score they could fully defend, finishing on 147/8 in their 20 overs after being asked to bat.
Already out of the playoff race, MI never found momentum after losing early wickets—slipping to 41/4 within the first six overs.
Hardik Pandya (26) and Tilak Varma (20) tried to rebuild, stitching a 43-run partnership to keep Mumbai within reach of a competitive total. Still, it was Corbin Bosch’s unbeaten 32 off 18 balls that helped narrow the gap towards the 150-run mark.
For Kolkata Knight Riders, the bowling was led by a strong mix of pace and spin, with the following figures:
- Saurabh Dubey: 2/34
- Cameron Green: 2/23
- Kartik Tyagi: 2/37
- Sunil Narine: 1/13
In a match shaped by early setbacks and late acceleration, Chahar’s playful “chit celebration” offered the highlight moment—even as Mumbai’s chase dynamics were already influenced by a difficult batting start.
