Akash Singh’s Chit Celebration Sparks Debate: Rayudu and Steyn React
A Rising Star Faces Scrutiny
In a high-stakes encounter at the Ekana Stadium, 24-year-old left-arm seamer Akash Singh delivered a standout performance that should have defined his season. Making his first appearance of the campaign for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Singh was clinical with the ball. He finished his four-over spell with impressive figures of 3/26, claiming the vital wickets of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, and Urvil Patel.
However, instead of the focus remaining solely on his tactical brilliance, the conversation shifted toward his unconventional celebration. Each time Singh claimed a scalp, he pulled out a piece of paper—a ‘chit’—to celebrate the moment. The message on the paper, which read, ‘Akki on fire- Akash knows how to take wickets in a T20 game,’ was intended as a form of self-motivation. Yet, it inadvertently became the catalyst for a wider debate on the spirit and trends of the modern game.
The Criticism from Legends
The celebration trend, which has seen appearances from players like Mumbai Indians’ Raghu Sharma and Urvil Patel earlier this season, did not sit well with veteran cricket voices. Former Indian batter Ambati Rayudu, while acknowledging the player’s performance, was quick to voice his skepticism during his appearance on ESPN Cricinfo’s Time-out. He dismissed the act as ‘manifestation’ that, while intended to be funny, comes across as ‘rubbish’ to many observers.
South African pace legend Dale Steyn was even more blunt in his assessment. Taking to social media, Steyn expressed his frustration with the growing trend of written notes in cricket celebrations, stating, ‘Time to put the papers away. It ain’t trending anymore. Actually, to be honest, it never really was.’ The backlash highlights a growing divide between traditionalists who believe in understated celebrations and a younger generation of players looking for unique ways to express their confidence on the big stage.
Understanding the Motivation
Despite the criticism, Akash Singh stands by his choice. Speaking during the mid-innings break, the young pacer explained that the gesture was purely about internal focus. ‘I was happy and also when you don’t get many games it is important to push yourself. I kept my focus and went about with my practice and did what was in my control and it worked,’ Singh shared.
He further elaborated on the psychological aspect of the ritual: ‘There is a story behind it. It is just to motivate myself during the matches. Things can work in your favour or go against you during matches. If this helps me stay focused and motivated then I will keep doing it, because performance matters at the end of the day.’ For Singh, the performance is paramount, and the chit serves as an anchor in the high-pressure environment of the IPL.
The Trajectory of Akash Singh
Akash Singh is no stranger to the spotlight. A product of the talented 2020 Under-19 World Cup squad, he was part of the side that reached the finals against Bangladesh. That team proved to be a goldmine for Indian cricket, producing stars like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravi Bishnoi, Tilak Varma, Kartik Tyagi, and Dhruv Jurel.
Singh’s own professional path has been a journey of persistence. After a quiet debut with the Rajasthan Royals in 2021 where he went wicketless in a single appearance, he found more consistency at CSK, claiming five wickets in six matches during the following season. Since joining the Lucknow Super Giants in 2025, his role has been sporadic, but his recent performance against CSK—his best figures to date—suggests that he is starting to find his rhythm. Whether he chooses to keep the ‘chits’ for his next match or move on to a more traditional celebration remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: his bowling has finally demanded the attention of the cricketing world.
