Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer Harshit Rana has once again found himself in hot water with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for his on-field celebrations. Rana, who has already been penalized twice this season for similar offenses, couldn’t resist repeating his antics in the IPL 2024 match against Lucknow Super Giants.
Despite being handed a 100% fine on his match fee and a one-match suspension for breach of IPL Code of Conduct, Rana managed to “tease” the BCCI with his latest celebration. The uncapped Indian pacer kept a finger on his mouth after dismissing a Lucknow batsman, prompting fans to speculate that he was mocking the cricket board.
KKR also decided to share the picture of Rana’s celebration on social media, further fueling the controversy. The BCCI is yet to comment on the incident, but it is likely that Rana will face further disciplinary action.
Rana’s previous celebration, which earned him a suspension, came in the match against Delhi Capitals. The pacer had celebrated a wicket by running towards the boundary line and jumping over the advertising hoardings. The BCCI deemed this celebration to be “excessive” and “against the spirit of the game.”
The BCCI has been cracking down on excessive celebrations in recent years, with the aim of maintaining the decorum of the game. However, some players have argued that the rules are too strict and stifle their creativity.
It remains to be seen whether the BCCI will take offense to Rana’s latest celebration and hand him another penalty. The pacer has already admitted to the offense and accepted the sanction for his previous celebration, but it is possible that the BCCI will view his latest antics as a deliberate provocation.
