Making his first appearance of the IPL 2026 season, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) fast bowler Akash Singh produced a fiery spell of 3 for 26 in four overs to dismantle the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) top-order at Ekana Cricket Stadium on Friday (May 15).
Sanju Samson (20), Ruturaj Gaikwad (13) and Urvil Patel (6) were his victims. Akash celebrated each wicket by reading and flashing a motivational chit: "#Akki on fire - Akash knows how to take wickets in a T20 game".
While Akash defended the act as a personal source of confidence, it drew sharp criticism from former cricketers like Ambati Rayudu, Mitchell McClenaghan and Dale Steyn, who felt the antics were unnecessary.
Speaking on ESPNCricinfo, Rayudu came down heavily on the LSG pacer, suggesting the BCCI should completely ban players from bringing notes onto the field and calling the act "absolute nonsense".
“I just want to know at what point today he thought, ‘hey this will be awesome, like I’ll pull this out on TV, everybody will think I’m cool. I also want to know who his friends that he told backed him up and said that would be a great idea,” said Rayudu.
“I just think that’s his manifestation, it may not go down well with a lot of people, but it’s kind of funny and a bit of rubbish. I think they should ban this chit business, absolute nonsense. I don’t think they’re supposed to bring chits anyway,” he added.
McClenaghan also expressed his disapproval of the celebration, viewing it as excessive for the playing field.
“I’m actually flabbergasted with some of this generation that’s coming through, like you know putting your fingers up on your first real performance on the IPL when you’ve only just turned up on the scene, we’ve only just learnt your name. It’s like jeez how many haters have you got bro, you’ve played four games. I just find it all fascinating, it’s really interesting,” McClenaghan told ESPNCricinfo.
Taking to social media platform X, Steyn stressed that the note gimmick was outdated, commenting: “Time to put the papers away. It ain’t trending no more. Actually, to be honest, never really was.”
Speaking to the broadcasters in the mid innings, Akash Singh explained the reason behind his celebration.
“It just gives me motivation. There is no reason behind it. Whatever motivates me during the game, I’ll keep backing it,” said Akash.
Akash was not the first to pull out the note celebration this season. Earlier in IPL 2026, Mumbai Indians spinner Raghu Sharma and Chennai Super Kings batter Urvil Patel had brought out notes from pocket to celebrate their milestones.
