Travis Head’s celebration insulted not just Pant but 1.5 billion Indians: Navjot Sidhu
Australia vs India: Former Indian batter Navjot Singh Sidhu has slammed Travis Head's 'obnoxious' celebration after Rishabh Pant's dismissal in the recent Boxing Day Test. Sidhu labeled the act as "obnoxious behavior", saying the celebration insulted not just Pant but the entire Indian population of 1.5 billion.
Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu slammed Travis Head’s celebration after dismissing Rishabh Pant, calling it an insult to 1.5 billion Indians and demanding “stringent punishment” to prevent similar acts on the cricket field in the future.
The incident took place during the final session of Day 5 of the Boxing Day Test when Head dismissed Pant, who had scored a brisk 30. Head’s peculiar celebration—pointing one finger into a circularly shaped hand—left fans and commentators puzzled. Although Channel 7’s James Brayshaw and Pat Cummins later clarified that the gesture symbolised “putting his finger on ice”.
“Travis head’s obnoxious behaviour during the course of the Melbourne test doesn’t auger well for the gentleman’s gameâ¦â¦ sets the worst possible example when there are kids, women, young & old watching the gameâ¦â¦. this caustic conduct did not insult an individual but a nation of 1.5 billion Indiansâ¦â¦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 wrote on X.
Channel 7’s James Brayshaw offered some clarity. “Now, great people in the back have said after he took 4-10 within 17 balls in Sri Lanka in 2022 he was quoted as saying, ‘I had to put the digit on ice’,” Brayshaw said. “So that was the celebration. He said ‘I just got him, and I’m putting it back on ice’.”
Australia captain Pat Cummins provided an explanation for Head’s celebration. “I can explain that. His finger is so hot, that he is going to put it in a cup of ice. Yes, that’s what it is. That’s normally the running joke. Was it at the Gabba or somewhere, where he got a wicket as well and just got straight to the fridge, grabs a bucket of ice, puts his finger in and just walks in front of Lyno (Nathan Lyon). Just like that, I think it’s very funny. So that’s what it would have been, nothing else,” Cummins told reporters after Australia won the match by 184 runs to go 2-1 up with one match left in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Despite Head’s struggles with the bat—registering scores of 0 and 1 in the match—he made a decisive impact with the ball. His timely breakthrough dismissed Pant, triggering a collapse in the Indian batting lineup. India lost their last six wickets for just 34 runs, succumbing to 155 in their chase of 340.
