Delhi Capitals star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has finally opened up on his ugly spat with Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Eoin Morgan during their IPL 2021 clash on Tuesday. Ashwin took to Twitter and in a series of tweets, he made his stand clear.
“1. I turned to run the moment I saw the fielder throw and dint know the ball had hit Rishabh.
- Will I run if I see it!? Of course I will and I am allowed to.
- Am I a disgrace like Morgan said I was? Of course NOT,”
- Did I fight? No, I stood up for myself and that’s what my teachers and parents taught me to do and pls teach your children to stand up for themselves. In Morgan or Southee’s world of cricket they can choose and stick to what they believe is right or wrong but do not have the right to take a moral high ground and use words that are derogatory. What’s even more surprising is the fact that people are discussing this and also trying to talk about who is the good and bad person here! To all the ‘Cricket is a gentleman’s game’ fans in the house’: There are millions of cricketers with several thought processes that play this great game to make it their careers, teach them that an extra run taken due to a poor throw aimed to get you out can make your career and an extra yard stolen by the non striker can break your career. Do not confuse them by telling them that you will be termed a good person if you refuse the run or warn the non striker, because all these people who are terming you good or bad have already made a living or they are doing what it takes to be successful elsewhere. Give your heart and soul on the field and play within the rules of the game and shake your hands once the game is over. The above is the only ‘spirit of the game’ I understand,” Ashwin wrote in the long thread.
Ashwin has been slammed by Dinesh Karthik, Shane Warne and several others for deciding to go for an extra run after the ball deflected off his bat.
The incident happened during DC innings when Ashwin and Delhi skipper Rishabh Pant decided to take a run after the ball deflected off Ashwin’s bat. The move did not go down well with KKR seamer Tim Southee and captain Eoin Morgan, who entered into an ugly spat with Ashwin. The matter didn’t end even after the players left the ground. After the game, Morgan took to twitter that terrible example was set for the upcoming young kids_. “Can’t believe what I’m seeing!! @IPL Terrible example to set for young kids coming through. In time I think Ashwin will regret that,”_ he tweeted.
Warne termed the incident as ‘disgraceful’. He tweeted: “The world shouldn’t be divided on this topic and Ashwin. It’s pretty simple – it’s disgraceful & should never happen. Why does Ashwin have to be that guy again ? I think @Eoin16 had every right to nail him !!!!.” But Virender Sehwag backed Ashwin and reminded Morgan of England’s controversial World Cup triumph.
