NEWS
Follow UsRavichandran Ashwin stirred the “Spirit of Cricket” debate once again when he and Rishabh Pant ran for a single after the ball ricocheted off the latter. After the first ball of the final over of DC's innings as Ashwin was dismissed by Tim Southee, the camera picked up Southee mouthing a few words to Ashwin.
Ashwin immediately replied back and that got Eoin Morgan, the KKR skipper, to exchange a few words with the Indian all-rounder. While Dinesh Karthik tried to pacify things on the field, Ashwin came back with a fiery response for the KKR duo in a Twitter post.
“1. I turned to run the moment I saw the fielder throw and dint know the ball had hit Rishabh. 2. Will I run if I see it!? Of course, I will and I am allowed to. 3. Am I a disgrace like Morgan said I was? Of course NOT,” Ashwin wrote.
“4. 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!”
Further, Ashwin urged the cricket fans and experts not to confuse following the rules with the spirit of cricket, for a simple thing may ruin a career of a cricketer. He further added that playing within the rules and shaking hands at the end of the game is the only “spirit of the game” he understands.
“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 nonstriker, 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.”
Meanwhile, DC owner Parth Jindal has backed Ashwin over his confrontation with Morgan during an IPL game.
So when the ball ricochets off Ben Stokes for 4 additional runs which single handedly allows England to win the 50 over World Cup there are no issues? But when Ash takes an extra run the world goes crazy? #Hypocrisy at its best - fully behind you @ashwinravi99
— Parth Jindal (@ParthJindal11) September 30, 2021
Ashwin was then seen charging towards Morgan and Southee, prompting Dinesh Karthik to intervene and douse the fire.