Harshit Rana, the promising Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer, addressed a burning question: would he unleash his flying-kiss celebration against Virat Kohli? Known for his unexpected flying-kiss celebration during a match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Rana’s gesture became a hot topic of discussion and even led to a 60% match fee fine. Despite the consequences, the incident left a significant mark, with many associating him with the celebration.
Rana, reflecting on the flying-kiss episode, explained that it wasn't a premeditated act. "I didn't deliberately do it – the flying kiss. When I took the wicket of Mayank bhaiya... actually, when he hit the ball in the air, I got close to him during my follow-through. It happened instinctively and it came out. The cameraman focused on it well. I met him [Mayank] again in the final and told him there was no malice. He understood. He and I have had this equation. I had a bit of it [banter] during the Duleep Trophy match as well," Rana shared on Shubhankar Mishra's podcast.
The celebration caught widespread attention, even reaching the Mumbai Indians (MI) dressing room. MI captain Rohit Sharma humorously recreated the gesture in front of Mayank Agarwal. Rana later discussed the celebration with Sharma, who offered encouragement. "I had a word with Rohit bhaiya during the MI game. He said, 'If you're enjoying it, keep doing it. No problem there.
Rana also revealed that KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan supported him through the controversy, advising him to save such celebrations for after the IPL season. True to his word, Khan celebrated with Rana after KKR secured their third IPL title.
Despite the support, Rana faced further disciplinary action, including a one-match ban for a second offence related to his animated celebrations. This led to fans daring him to repeat the celebration against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), specifically targeting Virat Kohli. Addressing this, Rana clarified his stance: "I am telling you. I didn't pre-determine that I'd go and do it in the first match. And even in the second game. People dared me to try and do it in the RCB match. But I didn't tease him [Kohli]. I have respect for him. I have respect for every player, but no, I wouldn't do it in front of him."
Rana’s respectful approach towards Kohli underscores the balance between on-field banter and maintaining respect for fellow players. His journey from an instinctive celebration to becoming a memorable figure in IPL 2024 highlights the intricate dynamics of cricket and the personalities involved.