IPL 2021 – Ashwin-Morgan Spat: Two days after having an altercation with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Eoin Morgan on the field, Delhi Capitals’ spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Thursday cleared the air on what exactly happened and he also gave his take on the much-debated ‘spirit of cricket’. Ashwin who till date was keeping quite on the incident made his stand clear after sections of Australian media called him ‘Cheat’ & Shane Warne termed Ashwin ‘Disgraceful’
Also Read: IPL 2021 KKR beat DC: Big fight between Ashwin & Tim Southee, Watch VIDEO
IPL 2021 Ashwin-Morgan Spat: Aussie media calls Ashwin ‘cheat’, disappointed Delhi Capitals spinner ‘hits-back’
IPL 2021 – Ashwin-Morgan Spat: What exactly happened? Ashwin and Morgan were involved in a heated exchange after the former was dismissed by Tim Southee in the last over of the DC innings at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
DC skipper Rishabh Pant and Ashwin had picked a second run off the last ball of the 19th over and that seemed to have irked the KKR outfit as some consider it to be against the guidelines of Fair Play to take a run when the ball thrown by the fielder ricochets off the batter.
“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,” tweeted Ashwin.
In a series of tweets, Ashwin then stated how he will always take a stand for himself because that is what he has been taught by his parents and teachers.
“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,” said Ashwin in another tweet.
Further talking about the incident, Ashwin said: “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.”
IPL 2021 – Ashwin-Morgan Spat: Shane Warner & Australian Media call Ashwin ‘Cheat”
Even a day after the incident, the controversy refused to die down. Shane Warne, not one to shy away from expressing his opinion, would also find fault with Ashwin’s act. 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 !!!!.”
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 !!!! https://t.co/C2g5wYjeT6
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) September 29, 2021
IPL 2021 – Ashwin-Morgan Spat: The Aussie media jumped in too. Fox Cricket, a subscription television channel from Down Under, would pick the Warne tweet and put a headline that went: ‘Disgraceful’: Warne furious as India villain breaks spirit of cricket again in fiery clash.’
IPL 2021 – Ashwin-Morgan Spat: Virender Sehwag comes in defence of Ashwin
On July 14th , 2019 when it ricocheted of Ben Stokes bat in the final over, Mr Morgan sat on a Dharna outside Lord’s and refused to hold the World cup trophy and New Zealand won. Haina ? Bade aaye, ‘doesn’t appreciate’ waale 😂 pic.twitter.com/bTZuzfIY4S
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) September 29, 2021
IPL 2021 – Ashwin-Morgan Spat: Ashwin has previously divided opinion by running out non-strikers who leave their crease before he has let the ball go.
Again, it is a dismissal that is perfectly legal under the laws of cricket – in fact, a change in the ICC playing conditions in 2011 facilitated this dismissal – but a host of cricketers criticised Ashwin for it.
