The IPL's paper-note celebration trend is facing a backlash, with former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn leading the charge. Steyn's recent post on X (formerly Twitter) has sparked a debate about the trend's longevity and impact on the sport.
Steyn's message was clear: 'Time to put the papers away. It ain’t trending no more. Actually, to be honest, never really was.' This comment came after Akash Singh, a pacer for the Lucknow Super Giants, pulled out a written note during a celebration against the Chennai Super Kings. Singh's note, which read 'Akki on fire - Akash knows how to take wickets in T20 games', became a viral moment, but Steyn's post suggests the trend has already lost its appeal.
The paper-note celebration trend began in 2025 when Abhishek Sharma, a batter for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, pulled out a note during his century against the Punjab Kings, dedicating it to the 'Orange Army'. Since then, other players have joined the trend, including Raghu Sharma, Urvil Patel, and Akash Singh. While some players have used the notes to express emotion, tribute, or self-motivation, Steyn believes the gesture has become excess packaging around the actual cricket.
Steyn's post adds a sharper edge to the trend, suggesting that the notes have already lost their freshness and may never have deserved the hype. He argues that the wickets, runs, and performances are what matter, not the slips of paper. This reaction raises a deeper question about the boundaries of acceptable celebration in cricket and the potential for such trends to become overused and tired.
The IPL's paper-note celebration trend has become one of the most noticeable side-stories of the season, but it may be time to put the papers away and focus on the actual cricket. Steyn's post has sparked a debate about the trend's future, and it remains to be seen whether it will continue to evolve or fade away.
