Picture Credit: X
After India went down in the fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday, December 30, several former cricketers as well as pundits stood in support of India in regards to several instances which unfolded during the final day of the Test. In one of the instances, former cricketers, including the likes of Navjot Singh Sidhu also hit out at Travis Head’s obscene celebration, which he brought up after dismissing Rishabh Pant.
The incident took place during the final session of the MCG Test. Jaiswal and Pant, who were looking good in the middle and stitched 79-run stand in the second session, the Indian wicketkeeper-batter had to depart with Pat Cummins calling in Travis Head into the attack. Pant, who went for a big shot was caught by Mitchell Marsh at wide long-on. Soon after this breakthrough, Head was seen bringing in a peculiar celebration - pointing one finger into a circle shaped hand, leaving everyone puzzled.
This caustic conduct did not insult an individual but a nation: Navjot Singh Sidhu
Although, Channel 7’s James Brayshaw and Pat Cummins offered explanation on this unique celebration, former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu hit back at Head, calling it an insult to 1.5 billion Indians. Taking to X (formerly called Twitter), Sidhu called the gesture as an insult to a nation of 1.5 billion Indians.
"Travis head’s obnoxious behaviour during the course of the Melbourne test doesn’t auger well for the gentleman’s game...... sets the worst possible example when there are kids, women, young & old watching the game....... this caustic conduct did not insult an individual but a nation of 1.5 billion Indians......stringent punishment that would serve a deterrent for the future generations needs to be slapped on him so that no one dares follow suit !!!" Sidhu wrote on X.
Earlier Australia captain Pat Cummins provided an explanation for Head's celebration. "I can explain that. His finger is so hot, that he is going to put it in a cup of ice. Yes, that’s what it is. That’s normally the running joke,” he explained. “Was it at the Gabba or somewhere, where he got a wicket as well and just got straight to the fridge, grabs a bucket of ice, puts his finger in and just walks in front of Lyno (Nathan Lyon). Just like that, I think it's very funny. So that’s what it would have been, nothing else," Cummins told reporters.
