Akash Singh’s Paper Chit Celebration Against CSK Sparks Viral Reaction and Rayudu Banter
Lucknow Super Giants left-arm pacer Akash Singh delivered a memorable first appearance of the 2026 Indian Premier League season, taking two powerplay wickets against the Chennai Super Kings at Ekana Stadium on Friday. Beyond his bowling performance, Singh captured social media attention with a pre-planned paper chit celebration following his dismissals of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson.
Powerplay Wickets and the Viral Message
Bowling his second over of the match, Singh struck inside the powerplay by removing CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad for 13 runs off 9 balls. Gaikwad mistimed a pull shot directly to Nicholas Pooran. Immediately after the catch, Singh reached into his pocket, retrieved a folded piece of paper, and displayed a handwritten note to the television cameras.
The message read: “Akki on fire – Akash knows how to take wickets in T20 game.”
Singh repeated the gesture in the sixth over after dismissing CSK opener Sanju Samson, who flicked a delivery to Mukul Choudhary in the deep. This double strike dismantled the Chennai top order, reducing them from 31 without loss to 36 for 2 and shifting the early match momentum firmly to the Lucknow Super Giants.
Match Statistics: Akash Singh’s Powerplay Impact
| Batter Dismissed | Runs Scored | Over | Catcher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | 13 (9) | 2nd | Nicholas Pooran |
| Sanju Samson | N/A | 6th | Mukul Choudhary |
Reactions from Broadcasters
The unusual celebration quickly became a talking point on social media platforms and post-match broadcast analysis. Former Chennai Super Kings batter Ambati Rayudu discussed the incident on ESPNcricinfo‘s TimeOut program, opting for a humorous response rather than strict criticism.
“I just think that’s his manifestation. It may not go well with a lot of people, but it’s kind of funny and a bit rubbish,” Rayudu noted during the broadcast. He continued the banter by comparing the cricket pitch to a testing center. “I think they should ban these kind of chits, absolute nonsense. I mean, I don’t think you are supposed to bring chits into an examination hall.”
While the note-reading routine drew laughs from commentators, Singh’s opening spell proved highly effective for the Lucknow Super Giants, establishing his spot in the early stages of the 2026 tournament.