‘Stringent punishment needs to be slapped on him’ - Navjot Singh Sidhu on Travis Head’s controversial celebration at MCG

Chasing 340 runs in the final innings of the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground, India were on the back foot, having lost three quick wickets of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli. The visitors needed something special to save the Test and that’s when Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal stepped up and batted well in the second session of the day, as India pushed for a draw.

Things were going well for the Rohit Sharma-led side but that’s when Travis Head gave an important breakthrough as he dismissed Pant for 30 runs off 104 deliveries. The flamboyant batter, who was extremely disciplined until then, decided to go for a hit but failed to get under the ball and time it, resulting in the ball going wide to the mid-on where Mitchell Marsh picked a brilliant catch.

After the dismissal, Head celebrated in a unique manner as the all-rounder pointed his finger into a circle made with his other hand. Some labelled it as an obscene gesture but later, captain Pat Cummins explained that it was his “put the digit on ice” celebration, which had nothing to do with any obscenity.

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However, former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu called out Head for his obnoxious celebration and called for a stringent punishment. The 61-year-old noted that it was an insult to 1.5 billion Indians and added that he set the worst example for kids, women, young and old people watching the game

“Travis head’s obnoxious behaviour during the course of the Melbourne test doesn’t auger well for for the gentleman’s game…… sets the worst possible example when there are kids, women, young & old watching the game……. this caustic conduct did not insult an individual but a nation of 1.5 billion Indians……stringent punishment that would serve a deterrent for the future generations needs to be slapped on him so that no one dares follow suit,” Sidhu tweeted.

Meanwhile, Australia defeated India by 184 runs to get an inch closer to the final of the World Test Championship.