Sunil Gavaskar Brutally Trolls Akash Singh’s ‘Chit’ Celebration in IPL 2026

In the high-stakes, fast-paced world of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, fortunes can change in the span of just a few deliveries. No one learned this harsh lesson more vividly than Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) young left-arm pacer, Akash Singh. After capturing the cricket world’s attention with a viral “chit-style” celebration in a previous game, the youngster experienced a brutal reality check against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Jaipur. Not only did he leak runs heavily, but he also found himself on the receiving end of a scathing on-air roast by the legendary Sunil Gavaskar.

The Rise of Akash Singh’s Viral Celebration

Just days before the clash in Jaipur, Akash Singh was the talk of the town. During LSG’s thrilling encounter against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the young left-arm pacer put on an absolute masterclass. Delivering under immense pressure, he ripped through the CSK batting lineup, picking up three crucial wickets while conceding a mere 26 runs in his four-over quota. His match-winning performance played a defining role in securing a memorable victory for the Lucknow franchise.

However, it wasn’t just his bowling that caught everyone’s eye—it was his celebration. After taking a wicket, Akash pulled off a “chit-style” gesture, pretending to read from a small piece of paper as if ticking a name off a list. The unique celebration immediately went viral across social media platforms, with fans praising his confidence and flare. But as the saying goes in cricket, the game is a great leveler.

The Jaipur Nightmare: Rajasthan Royals Go on the Attack

The very next match against the Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium turned out to be a completely different story. Defending or chasing in Jaipur is never easy, and with RR hunting down a massive target of 221 runs, the pressure was immense. Akash Singh was brought into the attack, but instead of repeating his heroics, he was systematically dismantled by the Rajasthan batters.

The young bowler leaked a massive 54 runs in just three overs. He was targeted mercilessly, particularly by RR’s teenage batting sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The young prodigy showed absolutely no fear, launching a relentless assault on Akash and smashing boundaries at will. By the time Akash’s spell was completed, his economy rate had ballooned, putting LSG on the defensive.

“Where’s the Chit Now?” – Sunil Gavaskar Pulls No Punches

As Akash Singh struggled to find his line and length under the heavy onslaught, legendary Indian opener and commentator Sunil Gavaskar did not hold back. Known for his straightforward views, Gavaskar was highly critical of the young bowler’s lack of humility and his elaborate celebrations in previous games.

Speaking live on commentary during the brutal assault, Gavaskar openly questioned the youngster’s attitude, emphasizing that T20 cricket has a way of humbling players very quickly. Gavaskar remarked on air:

“I am asking, ‘Where’s the chit now?’ Chit is in the pocket, right? You got six deliveries in an over—you get a wicket in maybe one ball. With five balls, you are being clobbered. He has given 48 runs in 17 deliveries.”

Gavaskar’s comments resonated deeply with traditionalists who believe that young players should remain grounded, especially in a format as highly unpredictable as T20 cricket, where a hero can become a target in a matter of deliveries.

A Shift to the Marcus Rashford Celebration

Despite the severe hammering, Akash Singh did manage to find a breakthrough during the match, dismissing RR’s dangerous opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Interestingly, instead of reverting to his famous “chit” celebration, the pacer decided to debut a new routine. He pointed towards his temple and raised his hand, pointing his index finger to the sky—a direct replication of English football star Marcus Rashford’s famous celebration.

While the gesture showed that the youngster was trying to keep his spirits high, the sheer volume of runs he conceded overall meant the celebration did little to mask a tough outing on the field.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and RR Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

While Akash Singh faced a tough evening, the night belonged to Rajasthan Royals’ Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The teenage sensation played what will easily go down as one of the most explosive and memorable innings of IPL 2026. Chasing the daunting 221-run target, Sooryavanshi blazed his way to 93 runs off just 38 deliveries, completely disarming the LSG bowling attack.

His fearless knock paved the way for Rajasthan Royals to comfortably chase down the target in 19.1 overs with seven wickets in hand. This crucial victory has kept Rajasthan’s hopes alive in the tightly contested IPL 2026 playoff race.

On the other hand, the loss officially ends Lucknow Super Giants’ hopes of making it to the playoffs this season. However, LSG still has one final opportunity to play party spoilers. Their final league stage match is against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on May 23. If LSG can pull off an upset, they could end Punjab’s hopes as well, adding another twist to the final stretch of the tournament.