Cricket is a celebration of skill, teamwork, and passion, more than just a sport. When a bowler takes a wicket on the field, it is a moment of celebration not just for the team but for their fans worldwide. This article shows the top 10 wicket celebrations that boost the game spirit. Such celebrations are considered as the team unity more than the individual’s success. These wicket celebrations remind us that it’s about the passion and love for the sport, which is beyond just winning or losing.
1. The "Gangnam Style" Dance - Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle, the flamboyant West Indies Player, is renowned for his remarkable batting skills and energetic celebrations on the field. His ‘Gangnam Style’ dance during the wicket-taking moments in IPL has become iconic. In an IPL match, Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist surprised everyone by celebrating the same dance during a wicket. These joyful celebrations showcase their unity on the international stage and always entertain the fans.
2. “Catch Me If You Can” Celebration – Imran Tahir
South African bowler Imran Tahir is famous for his “Catch Me If You Can” celebration, where he runs energetically across the field after taking a wicket. This is not only a display of passion but also symbolizes unity as his teammates chase after him. Tahir’s love for the game, even at 40 years old, remains truly inspiring to all the fans and cricket lovers worldwide.
3. Sheldon Cottrell’s Army Salute
Sheldon Cottrell is a West Indies cricketer who does an iconic precise march and stiff salute after taking a wicket. He does this to honor his fellow soldiers by performing a military-style salute on the field. This unique celebration of the West Indies team adds a distinct touch to cricket and expresses a calypso spirit. Cottrell’s salute is a mark of respect for his Army Regiment, and a joyful sight for cricket fans across the globe.
4. The "Dance Moves" - Dwayne Bravo
Dwayne Bravo is known as a cricket sensation, not just for his cricketing skills but also for his lively dance performances on the field. He introduced a new dance move, the ‘zooper dooper’, during the Big Bash League match. During IPL, he effortlessly captures the hearts of the CSK fans by being both match winner and a cheerful dancer. Bravo’s dance skills inspired teammate Doug Bollinger to join in, creating amusing moments.
5. Notebook Celebration – Kesrick Williams
In the second T20 International match between India and West Indies, the rivalry between Virat Kohli and Kesrick Williams took a new turn with a “notebook” celebration. In the first T20I, Kohli dismissed Williams for 23 runs and taunted with the notebook celebration. When Williams dismissed Kohli, he gave him a “keep shut” send-off instead of notebook celebration. The rivalry began in 2017 when Williams used the notebook celebration against Kohli.
6. Sreesanth Wicket Celebration
Sreesanth, an Indian bowler, has had some memorable celebrations on the field. One of his iconic moment was when he pumped the ground vigorously after dismissing Matthew Hayden during the T20 Semifinal in 2007. The moment was celebrated as a wicket that turned the game in favor of India. This wicket of Sreesanth remained an outstanding performance against Australia. Sreesanth also says that captain MS Dhoni’s motivation fuelled his remarkable performance.
7. Chicken Dance Celebration – Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar, the “Rawalpindi Express”, was one of the fastest bowlers in cricket. He celebrates most of his wickets, among which the celebrations after dismissing Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar remain iconic. In 2005, he did a funny ‘chicken dance’ celebration after he dismissed Kevin Pieterson. Shoaib’s unique bowling style made him one of the outstanding players, and also he uses tricks to distract the batsmen. The ‘chicken dance’ remains a memorable part of his career.
8. Langford-Smith Ferret Dance
During the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2007, Dave Langford-Smith, an Irish bowler, performed his signature dance, the Ferret dance, upon dismissing Mohammad Rafique of Bangladesh. Langford-Smith made performed remarkably in that match, taking two crucial wickets in his ten overs. His entertaining ferret dance celebration became an iconic moment from the game, which showcased the lighter side of cricket.
9. Chainsaw Celebration Of Brett Lee
Brett Lee is most famous for his entertaining celebrations, especially the chainsaw celebration. He continued to do this amusing gesture until his last match, the Big Bash League (BBL) in 2014-15. Despite his team’s loss, Lee’s career has won the hearts of many fans. During a training program in Australia, he demonstrated the celebration to others.
10. Fabian Allen’s Tap Dance
Fabian Allen is a West Indies all-rounder known for his spin and incredible fielding. He does a unique celebration after the wicket – the tap dance. It makes a remarkable sight; after taking a wicket, he does this dance while bobbing his head. He celebrated dismissing Virat Kohli, adding a memorable moment to his celebrations. His multifaceted talents make his fans hope to see his skills and dance for many more years.
