The third match of IPL 2024 stirred up controversy when Kolkata Knight Riders’ Harshit Rana’s unusual gesture towards Mayank Agarwal during the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad caught attention. Rana, after dismissing Agarwal, blew him a flying kiss and engaged in a tense staredown with him.
This incident sparked a light-hearted response ahead of SRH’s next match against Mumbai Indians at Hyderabad. During a practice session at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Rohit Sharma recreated the controversial moment by blowing a flying kiss towards Agarwal.
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The photo, shared by the official Sunrisers Hyderabad account, quickly went viral on social media, capturing the lighter side of the incident.
Sealed with a kiss 🫣
Watch #KKRvSRH with #IPLonJioCinema now in Bengali 🤩#TATAIPL #IPL2024 #JioCinemaSports pic.twitter.com/w2mf87HVa0
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) March 23, 2024
However, Rana’s gesture towards Agarwal did not go unnoticed by the authorities. He was fined 60 percent of his match fees for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct. The BCCI released a statement confirming Rana’s sanctions, stating that he admitted to two Level 1 offences under Article 2.5 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct.
Rohit Sharma giving a flying kiss to Mayank Agarwal.
– Harshit Rana gave a flying kiss send off to him. 😂🔥 pic.twitter.com/H2meB4NMo7
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 26, 2024
Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, who was commentating during the match, criticized Rana’s actions, emphasizing that such antics were unnecessary in the game. He highlighted that cricket could be played without resorting to such gestures, especially considering the television age and the need for sportsmanship.
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The incident added an intriguing subplot to the IPL 2024 tournament, underscoring the significance of maintaining decorum and respect on the field. As the competition progresses, players and teams will undoubtedly be mindful of their conduct, both in victory and defeat, to uphold the spirit of the game.
