Imran Tahir opens up about his trademark celebrations after match-winning performance against Sri Lanka

There are only a few cricketers who celebrate a wicket with as much passion and intensity as South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir. The recently concluded IPL saw him at his best. Tahir dismantled the best of the batsmen, only to follow it up with his marathon-like celebration.

Without a doubt, Tahir is a bowler who exudes dedication towards the game. His unwavering focus while bowling has rewarded him with wickets in all forms of the game. The fact that he is ranked 2nd in the ICC bowlers’ rankings is a testimony to his success in international cricket.

To those who are unfamiliar with Tahir’s celebrations, they typically include a dash towards the boundary with arms outstretched. Don’t forget the maniacal screams while he sprints. They finish with him thumping his chest and pumping his fist towards the crowd, perhaps as a token of gratitude towards his fans and supporters.

Imran Tahir – every inch a passionate cricketer

The second game of the 2017 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy witnessed several occasions when Tahir took off after a wicket. His match winning display against Sri Lanka had earned him the right to ‘go a little overboard’ with his celebrations, said AB de Villiers, the Proteas skipper.

Meanwhile, the ICC also managed to test their fancy new gadgets thanks to Tahir’s sprint. Having stuck the speed gun on him, the broadcaster showed him clocking 24kmph (around 15mph) after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka’s stand-in skipper Upul Tharanga. Imran Tahir, on the other hand, said that he was clueless as to how else he could go about celebrating his wicket.

“I’m quite pleased with the numbers – I’ll be showing them to the fitness coach!” said Tahir. The leggie was initially a doubt for the match after having done some damage to his hamstring while carrying on a spare pair of gloves while on 12th man duty against England last week. I’m just so pleased – I really don’t know what I do (when I celebrate). I just like to enjoy my cricket,” he reiterated.

We all are familiar with the leg-spinner, but seldom have we seen Tahir the fielder. To make Tahir’s day even better, he executed a brilliant direct hit from mid-on to remove Suranga Lakmal, and further send Sri Lanka spiralling towards a humiliating defeat.

“It was very cool,” Tahir said of the run out. “We work really hard as a group in training, but I do a little bit extra because I have to as there are so many good fielders in our team,” he added.

“I need to make my name somehow, and I was just really pleased that it happened for me,” Imran Tahir concluded.

South Africa next take on Pakistan on Wednesday at Edgbaston. A win over the Asian heavyweights could almost certify a place in the semis for the Proteas.