In contrast to the earlier IPL incident, Harshit Rana’s celebration was directed towards the dressing room rather than the batter.
Despite being punished by the BCCI for a similar act during the IPL 2024, Harshit Rana, the fast bowler for the Kolkata Knight Riders, brought out his old flying-kiss celebration on Thursday during the 2024 Duleep Trophy match between India C and India D at the Rural Development Trust Stadium in Anantapur.
In the second innings of the Duleep Trophy match, Harshit got rid of India C captain Ruturaj Gaikwad for five runs off of nineteen balls in the final ball of the fifth over. Just outside the off, the right-armer found the outside edge with a length delivery as Gaikwad nicked it straight to the Atharva Taide at second slip. The right-armer received his first call-up to the Indian team earlier this summer after an incredible performance in the Twenty24 Indian Premier League.
But unlike the IPL incident earlier this year, Harshit’s celebration was directed towards the dressing room rather than the batter.
What had happened in IPL 2024?
On March 23, after dismissing Mayank Agarwal during the Eden Gardens match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Harshit let out a flying kiss towards him. Mayank was furious about the action as he returned to the pavilion, and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar also criticized it live.
The fast bowler was later fined 10% and 50% of his match fees for the two separate offenses after it was determined that he had committed “two Level 1 offences under Article 2.5 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct.”
When Harshit was found guilty of an almost identical act nearly a month later, the BCCI punished him harsher. He nearly celebrated the same way against the Delhi Capitals after hitting Abhishek Porel, but he broke off midway and waved his hand in the direction of the dugout. For violating the IPL Code of Conduct, he was fined 100% of his match fees and suspended from the game.
More than a week later, former team captain Nitish Rana made fun of Harshit by saying, “Ek flying kiss ho jaye fir,” as KKR was traveling to Guwahati for a game against Rajasthan Royals. (Then, how about a flying kiss?) With a sheepish smile, the bowler declined the offer.
