Lockie Ferguson Defends Kyle Jamieson Celebration After Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Dismissal

Lockie Ferguson backs Kyle Jamieson after his on-field celebration sparked controversy during DC vs RR clash in IPL 2026.

Punjab Kings pacer Lockie Ferguson has come out in support of fellow Kiwi Kyle Jamieson after the latter was cautioned for his aggressive celebration during a clash between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals. The incident involved 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whom Jamieson dismissed with a sharp yorker after being hit for a boundary.

The moment escalated when Jamieson celebrated intensely and locked eyes with the youngster, drawing attention from match officials. He was later found in breach of the IPL Code of Conduct, sparking debate over the limits of on-field aggression.

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Ferguson Backs Teammate

Ferguson defended Jamieson’s reaction, stating that such emotions are a natural part of competitive cricket, especially in high-pressure tournaments like the IPL.

“Yeah, Kyle’s a good mate of mine. He got pretty fired up, which is pretty understandable, not easy to get wickets in this part of the world, and that was a big one. So, I think it’s part of the game,” Ferguson told India Today ahead of PBKS’ clash against Gujarat Titans on Sunday, May 3.

“I think celebration, I think fans like to see the passion, so I can’t comment on anything from a governing body point of view, but as a player, I think the passion coming out is great for the game. As a fan of the game, you like to see players getting passionate, players showing emotion, players being excited to take a wicket,” he added.

Ferguson also stressed the importance of maintaining a balance between passion and provocation. “Obviously there are times maybe where it steps over the mark, but for the game of cricket, it shows how much the players love playing here, love competing,” he added. “And then when they have success, you can see the emotion coming out. He’s obviously a big guy too, so when a big guy has a lot of emotions, it looks even bigger.”

Bowling Concerns Linger Despite PBKS Success

While Punjab Kings have enjoyed success with the bat, their bowling unit has struggled for consistency, conceding multiple 200-plus totals this season. Ferguson acknowledged the concerns but remained confident in the team’s ability to improve.

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“So we’re trying to execute, some days not so good, but at the same time, the skill sets that are involved with this bowling attack led by Arshdeep (Singh) and Yuzi (Chahal), I thought the spinners were fantastic last game,” Ferguson added. “So trying to make little adjustments, trying to tighten up in areas. We know within the IPL how small margins can look a lot bigger on TV, but we’re just trying to tighten up on areas, try to double down on our planning.”

Ferguson’s return adds depth to the PBKS bowling attack after he missed the early part of the season due to personal reasons. Punjab Kings are set to face Gujarat Titans next at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.