Eight cricketers who mimicked people from other sports while celebrating

Over the years, cricket has become a very flamboyant game not only in playing styles but also with the players not holding back their emotions.

Over the years, cricket has become a very flamboyant game not only in playing styles but also with the players not holding back their emotions. Celebrations have become an important part of the sport with players exuberant in their displays of joy. Nishad Pai Vaidya lists some of the adapted celebrations in cricket from other sports.

 

1:  Chris Gayle apes Cristiano Ronaldo

The West Indian giant is known for his ‘Gangnam’ moves and joyful celebrations. He has now added a new one to the list. When he got his ton against Kings XI Punjab in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), he went the Cristiano Ronaldo way. Putting his bat away, he jumped in the air, turned and then spread his arms. In an interview with DNA before the FIFA World Cup 2014, Gayle jovially said, “You have seen Cristiano Ronaldo, right? He has copied my style! If you see him, that’s Chris Gayle playing. That’s how good I am!”

 

2:  Indian team go the Usain Bolt way

The fastest man on the planet, Usain Bolt celebrates his victories by pointing to the sky as if taking aim with a bow and arrow. Many members of the Indian team have adopted this style and are known to have used it during practice. Football is the Indian team’s favourite practice exercise and you may see them celebrating goals in the Usain Bolt manner.

 

3:  Darren Sammy rocking the baby with a dummy

The “rocking baby” celebration first saw the light of the day during the FIFA World Cup 1994 quarterfinal between Brazil and Netherlands. Bebeto, the Brazilian player, had become a father and celebrated a goal with that gesture. Few of his teammates also joined in those celebrations to make it all the more memorable. In cricket, it was seen when the Bangladesh team collectively did it when they upset India in the 2007 World Cup. Carlos Tevez the famous striker, once celebrated a goal by putting a baby’s pacifier in his mouth. Darren Sammy combined Tevez and Bebeto’s celebration during the IPL 2013 when he rocked his imaginary baby with a pacifier in his mouth! Father’s Day out!

 

4:  Corey Colleymore, Fidel Edwards try out John Cena’s trademark move

John Cena is a popular WWE [World Wresting Entertainment] icon. In between his bouts, he is known to move his hand near the face. It is often referred to as the “you can’t see me,” which is also the title of Cena’s popular song. On the field of cricket, Corey Colleymore and Fidel Edwards made it their own. While Colleymore used only three fingers for that gesture, Edwards was closer to Cena in his imitation.

 

 

5:  Andrew Flintoff’s shirtless run at the Wankhede Stadium

 

When England beat India in the sixth and final One-Day International (ODI) of the 2001-02 tour, Andrew Fintoff ran around the Wankhede Stadium with his shirt off, waving it in the air. It was the first time a cricketer had done that — a sight common in football. A few months down the line, Sourav Ganguly, the Indian captain had his own chance as he did the same on the Lord’s balcony after India beat England in the 2002 NatWest Series final.

 

 

6:  Aditya Tare’s celebration covering his face with his jersey

During the last league game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2014 Mumbai Indians had to chase down Rajasthan Royals’ huge target in a specified number of overs to go ahead on net run-rates and qualify for the next round. With the scores even at that mark, Mumbai Indians needed a boundary to sneak ahead and out came Aditya Tare to face the fateful delivery. When he smashed that ball over fine-leg for a six, he spontaneously broke out into a footballing celebratory gig as he pulled up his jersey over his head and ran blindly in excitement, chased by his delirious teammates.

 

7:  Cartwheel

During the recent ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Hamid Hassan, the Afghanistan paceman, was seen celebrating some of his wickets by cartwheeling. Many footballers are known to do this on scoring goals.

 

8:  Shikhar Dhawan’s akhara-style

In recent times, ShikharDhawan has brought in a new celebration on taking catches. Dhawan has this typical North Indian macho man image and he brought that into play by imitating India’s traditional wrestlers. On taking catches, Dhawan sometimes pats his thigh lie a wrestler and then twirls his moustache.

 

(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Correspondent with CricketCountry and anchor for the site’s YouTube Channel. His Twitter handle is @nishad_45. The above article was first published in CricketCountry)

 

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