5 Iconic Cricket Celebrations Of All Time

Jatin

Rishabh Pant's celebration went viral [Source: @iplt20.com]Rishabh Pant's celebration went viral [Source: @iplt20.com]

Cricket is no longer just about runs, wickets and dot balls; it has become a full-blown spectacle. And while cover drives and toe-crushers win games, it is those wild, over-the-top celebrations that win hearts.

Be it a cheeky bat drop, a somersault that belongs in the Olympics or a full-blown sword dance in front of thousands, cricketers today know how to put on a show. These moments live rent-free in every fan’s head and have often gone more viral than the actual match highlights.

Here are 5 of the craziest, most iconic cricket celebrations that had fans cheering, laughing and mimicking them all over the world.

5. Tabraiz Shamsi’s Shoe Call Celebration

Probably the quirkiest one on the list: Tabraiz Shamsi’s "shoe call" celebration has left fans and commentators equally amused and puzzled. After grabbing a wicket, the South African spinner whips off his shoe and pretends to take a phone call.

But here’s the heartwarming part: he does it at the request of his kids, who love the celebration. Reportedly, it is also a nod to Imran Tahir, his idol and fellow celebration specialist.

4. Brett Lee’s Chainsaw Celebration

Back in the day, Brett Lee didn’t just bowl thunderbolts, he celebrated like one too. After uprooting stumps, the Aussie speedster would mimic revving up a chainsaw, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Turns out, there was a personal touch to it too. Binga once said the move was inspired by his dad’s actual chainsaw, a tool he admired for its precision. He simply connected the dots: his yorkers were as sharp and destructive as the saw his dad used to slice through wood. Honestly? Hard to argue with that.

3. Kevin Sinclair’s Somersault Celebration

West Indies all-rounder, Kevin Sinclair has made a name for himself not just with the ball, but with his now-iconic mid-pitch somersaults. He has done it against Zimbabwe in the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers, against Australia at The Gabba on Test debut and against England in the 2024 Test series.

Sinclair once revealed he started practicing somersaults at the age of eight and he has been nailing them ever since. It is easily one of the most athletic and joyful celebrations in the game today.

2. Ravindra Jadeja’s Sword Dance Celebration

You know it. You have seen it. You have probably tried it with a tennis racket. Ravindra Jadeja first whipped out his sword celebration in the 2014 Lord’s Test after a fighting half-century. Since then, the twirling bat has become his signature. 

Every time he crosses fifty or hundred, out comes the imaginary blade and fans go wild. There is something poetic about it. The way Sir Jadeja swings the bat with that royal finesse like a Rajput warrior celebrating a battlefield win is pure cricket theatre.

1. Joe Root’s Bat-Drop Celebration

Back in 2018, during the ODI series against India, Joe Root scored a stunning unbeaten 100 off 120 balls at Headingley, sealing a comfortable 8-wicket win for England. But it wasn’t the runs or the timing that stole headlines, it was what came after.

Root walked off with a cool-as-ice bat drop, mimicking the classic “mic drop” move. The internet exploded. Some loved it. Some called it arrogant. And Root himself? Later admitted, “It’s the most embarrassing thing I’ve done on a cricket field.” Still, it became one of the most unforgettable post-match moments in modern cricket. Smooth, subtle and savage all at once.