In cricket, it’s common for players to celebrate too soon, leading to some irreplaceable comedic moments. While thrilling to watch from the stands, situations like these may be extremely taxing on the athletes. Players have learned the hard way that premature celebration can have a devastating effect on the outcome of the game.
Ravichandran Ashwin vs Karnataka (2019 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy)
After celebrating with his team in the final over of the 2019 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) final against Tamil Nadu, Ravichandran Ashwin was left with severe sadness as Karnataka defeated Tamil Nadu. While Karnataka’s dramatic victory in the championship between bitter rivals Tamil Nadu and Karnataka is certainly noteworthy, the match itself has become legendary for other reasons as well. Only 13 runs were needed for victory as Tamil Nadu entered the final over. Ashwin got off to a fantastic start, dispatching the first two balls he faced for four, significantly reducing the target score. Ashwin pumped his fist emotionally as he acknowledged the completion of both limits. Krishnappa Gowtham delivered a dot ball and then allowed only one run to score off the next two balls when he faced a five-run deficit in the fourth. As opposed to this, Vijay Shankar appeared to be in red-hot form, as he attempted to double off the first ball of the over. Off the penultimate delivery, though, the batsmen were run out thanks to a brilliant throw from deep in the field by captain Manish Pandey. Murugan Ashwin could only manage a single, and Ravichandran Ashwin was left stranded after failing to gain the strike in the final three deliveries of the innings, leaving the team needing three runs to win.
Herschelle Gibbs vs Australia (1999 World Cup)
South Africa’s cricket team faced one of its darkest hours at the super six stages at the 1999 World Cup in Birmingham. Herschelle Gibbs, the South African innings’ centurion, lost a straightforward chance by skipper Steve Waugh, who was on 56 runs at the time. Gibbs scored an amazing 101 not out in 134 balls in the first innings, setting the Proteas up for a crushing victory. When Gibbs got too excited and tried to lob the ball into the stands, he missed and wrote his own downfall. Waugh was not called out because the catch was made but not fully controlled. Waugh made 120 runs unbeaten off 110 balls, and Australia won the World Cup by defeating Pakistan in the final a few days later.
Mushfiqur Rahim vs India (2016 Asia Cup)
Mushfiqur Rahim’s premature celebration during Bangladesh’s ICC WT20 match against Indian cricket team in 2016 continues to haunt the country. Rahim slashed two consecutive boundaries off Hardik Pandya, reducing the required run total to two from three balls. With India having won by a single run, Rahim may have been tempted to celebrate too soon. In the wake of India’s victory, he became viral on Twitter for his over-the-top reaction to the two boundaries. Unfortunately for Rahim, his troubles did not end there. Rahim was horrified to discover that his tweet of congratulations to West Indies cricket fans after their semi-final victory over India had been met with widespread criticism.
Suresh Raina vs Rajasthan Royals (2009 IPL)
In 2009, Suresh Raina was almost the first Indian to make a century in the IPL. Raina hit 98 runs in 55 balls for CSK against Rajasthan Royals before getting removed by Munaf Patel. At 94 not out, Raina struck a wonderful shot that appeared to go for a six. Before umpire Rudi Koertzen corrected the six to a four, the left-hander had already begun celebrating. Raina’s total score dropped from 100 to 98 after two runs were deducted. And with that, what could have been an IPL record-breaking innings for Raina was ended the very next ball.
