Travis Head Celebration: Australia defeated India by 184 runs in the IND vs AUS Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Day 5 of the fourth BGT match and went 2-1 up in the five-match series. Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, Scott Boland and Marnus Labuschagne were the standout players for the homeside while Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant were big letdowns for Team India. However, amongst all the cricketing drama, Travis Head’s celebration after Pant’s wicket on Day 5 took the center stage for various reasons.
Head dismissed a well-set Pant on the final day of the IND vs AUS MCG Test and provided Australia an opening to win the crucial match. But it was his celebration that sparked a major stir on social media. Head’s celebration—where he pointed one finger into his other hand shaped like a circle—left viewers and commentators alike perplexed, with some deeming it ‘vulgar’ and 'obscene.'
Have a look at Travis Head's celebration after Rishab Pant's wicket:
Pat Cummins Explains Travis Head's Controversial Celebration
After the match, Australian captain Pat Cummins explained Head’s celebrations as an inside joke about his "hot finger." Cummins shared that Head pretends to cool his finger in ice, referencing a past incident where he humorously grabbed ice after taking a wicket, teasing Nathan Lyon. Cummins clarified it was all in good fun and nothing more.
“Oh, sorry! Yes, okay! 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, thinks its very funny. So that’s what it would have been, nothing else," said Cummins.
Channel 7 commentator James Brayshaw also clarified the meaning behind Head’s celebration. He revealed it wasn’t a random gesture but a nod to a joke Head made in 2022 after taking 4/10 against Sri Lanka, where he quipped about needing to "put the digit on ice" following his remarkable performance.