- Broke out classic WWE victory move in domestic match
New Zealand spinner Ish Sodhi has finally made a name for himself with the bat, rather than the ball, and gone viral in the process with a hilarious WWE-inspired celebration.
Sodhi has played 21 Test matches for New Zealand, taking 58 wickets at an average of 43.10 with a best innings haul of 6/86.
He has also scored 561 Test runs at an average of 20.77, including four fifties and a top score of 65 not out.
While he has been a serviceable international player, one thing has eluded Sodhi – a first class ton.
This week, Sodhi broke that duck with his maiden first-class century, finishing unbeaten on 108 in a huge eighth-wicket stand for Canterbury.
He and Sean Davey, who also hit his first century with 101 not out, piled on a record unbeaten 204 in Dunedin. But it was his celebrations that have been most talked about on social media.
New Zealand spinner Ish Sodhi has become known for his over-the-top celebrations as a bowler
Sodhi has attracted plenty of interest for his WWE-inspired celebration at domestic level after scoring his maiden first class ton
Sodhi is more known for his bowling and has represented New Zealand 21 times at Test level along with several limited overs appearances
It started humbly, removing his helmet and putting his hands together in prayer and raising them to the sky, before also putting both hands up to honour passed loved ones.
But then, as Davey ran down the wicket to embrace him, Sodhi went wild.
He thrust his crotch out and then banged his hands down twice on his hips, seemingly mimicking the famous move use by former WWE stars D-Generation X.
And social media couldn’t get enough of it.
‘You can hear the lads losing it from the boundary when he hits it,’ one posted.
‘Acknowledged God, parents and naysayers in one clip,’ added another.
‘Ish Sodhi with the single greatest celebration of all time,’ a cricket fan group posted.
Not everyone was impressed, though, with plenty of comments about the loose shot he played to reach his milestone.
Sodhi and Davey’s partnership is the second-highest eighth-wicket stand ever recorded in the city and the highest in Plunket Shield history at the University of Otago Oval.
Canterbury now owns the top three eighth-wicket partnerships in New Zealand domestic cricket, adding this effort to famous stands from 2005/06 and 2004/05.
Only Auckland has come close with a 189-run effort back in 1938/39.
The innings also featured Henry Nicholls’ 111, making this the second straight Otago match to include three centuries in the same innings, and Otago has now begun its reply.
