'Spirit of the game' debate resurfaces after Ashwin-Morgan spat

The debate over what constitutes right and wrong according to the 'spirit of cricket' has been ignited once again following the spat between Ravichandran Ashwin and Eoin Morgan during Tuesday's IPL clash between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders.

KKR beat DC by three wickets in a low-scoring encounter but the problem had started when Ashwin tried stealing an extra run after KKR fielder Rahul Tripathi's throw ricocheted off Rishabh Pant's body.

Tim Southee and Eoin Morgan, who is captain of KKR, had a heated exchange with Ashwin after he was dismissed by the Kiwi, and KKR wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik had to intervene, asking Ashwin to leave.

“I don't think (Eoin) Morgan appreciated that (the extra run). I think he is somebody who, when the ball hits the batsman or the bat, expects them not to run in 'Spirit of Cricket',” Karthik said after the game.

Australian legend Shane Warne shared his thoughts on the spat saying it was “disgraceful and should never happen”.

Ashwin had, in 2019, attracted controversy when he 'Mankad'ed England's Jos Butler in an IPL game. Ashwin had run out Butler at the non-striker's end on the run up to his delivery, which kicked up a storm on whether he should have done that in the 'spirit of the game'.

Following Tuesday's incident, Twitter was quick to remind Ashwin's detractors that Morgan was captain of the English team that won the 2019 World Cup largely because of an overthrow at the end of the match that had deflected off Ben Stokes and gone to the boundary.

Ashwin, who got out on 9, would later take Morgan's wicket and celebrate by shouting in the Englishman's face. He finished the game with figures of 24 for one, which would not be enough to help Delhi win the game.

(With inputs from PTI)