NEW DELHI: The so-called chit celebration has become one of the notable off-field stories of the current IPL season, alongside various social media activities by teams and players. The gesture has moved through phases of going viral, being copied, criticised and parodied. Commentators have offered mixed views, with some calling it unnecessary while others see it as part of the league’s entertainment value. Behind the attention lie individual stories of players marking personal milestones. For Akash Singh, the act reflected years of waiting for a chance after moving between four franchises. In his first appearance for Lucknow Super Giants this season, the left-arm pacer dismissed Ruturaj Gaikwad and displayed a note reading that he knew how to take wickets in T20 cricket. He finished with three wickets for 26 runs. In the following match he was hit for 54 runs but took one wicket without repeating the celebration. His coach later explained that Singh had carried the note for a long time while waiting for opportunities. Singh, who was part of India’s under-19 World Cup squad in 2020, was bought by Rajasthan Royals that year and played one match before being released. He later joined Chennai Super Kings as a replacement, moved to Sunrisers Hyderabad, and was acquired by Lucknow Super Giants for his base price. He played three matches last season and spent much of the time on the bench. When given a chance this year, his emotions surfaced after claiming a wicket. Singh trains at an academy near Jaipur that has also produced fast bowler Ashok Sharma. The two discuss bowling techniques regularly. Originally from Bharatpur, Singh began working with his coach at age 15 and once took all ten wickets in an innings during a district match.
