Kolkata Knight Riders fast bowler Harshit Rana has impressed many experts and seasoned cricketers with his amazing performance in IPL 2024 where he has taken 11 wickets in eight matches. However, when he sent a flying-kiss to Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman Mayank Agarwal during an IPL match earlier this season, neither the fans nor former India captain Sunil Gavaskar went down well. Later Rana was fined heavily by BCCI.
Monday, during Kolkata Knight Ridersmatch against Capitals of Delhi at Eden Gardens, Kolkata Rana Abhishek Porel was all set to repeat his act after dismissing him in the seventh over. In his previous over, the DC batter hit the fast bowler for just two fours and a six in three consecutive deliveries. Excited for Porel’s good performance and having the last laugh in the contest, Rana almost went to send another flying-kiss. He first gestured with his hand towards Porel, pointing the way back to the dugout, but quickly stopped after remembering the brutal punishment meted out by the BCCI.
Here’s a video of the incident from DC against KKR:
Last month, due to his act against Mayank, Rana was found guilty of violating the IPL code of conduct and was therefore fined 60 per cent of his match fee. The youth has committed two Level 1 offenses under Article 2.5 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct. He was fined 10 percent and 50 percent of his match fee for two related offences. Rana admitted the two offenses and admitted the sanction of the match referee. For Level 1 violations of the Code of Conduct, the match referee’s decision is final and binding.
Rana’s celebration was not well received by Gavaskar and he criticized the KKR pacers in the air. The Indian legend said, “He shouldn’t have done that. Did the batsman do anything to the batsman when he hit him for sixes? Cricket can be played without these antics. This is the age of television. I understand. Celebrate with your teammates. But the opposition doesn’t need such antics.”
Overall, Rana took two wickets against Delhi, with Rasikh Salam the other dismissed, as KKR won by seven wickets to retain second place on the points table.
IPL 2024
