Ravichandran Ashwin has responded to the backlash he received for a spat he had with Eoin Morgan and Tim Southee during the IPL match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders.
Ashwin had been accused of not playing in the spirit of the game, when he took a run after the ball ricocheted off Rishabh Pant's body from a throw.
Morgan and Southee had a heated exchange with Ashwin, who had to be calmed down by KKR captain Dinesh Karthik.
The 'spirit of cricket' debate was later ignited on social media, with even Shane Warne chiming in with his criticism of Ashwin.
But Ashwin, never one to take criticism lying down, has retorted with a series of tweets, explaining his decision on the pitch and taking on his detractors.
“I tried to run the moment I saw the fielder throw and didn't know the ball had hit Rishabh,” he wrote.
“Will I run if I see it? Of course I will and I am allowed to.”
1. I turned to run the moment I saw the fielder throw and dint know the ball had hit Rishabh.
— Mask up and take your vaccine🙏🙏🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) September 30, 2021
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 said he stood up for himself because that is what he was taught to do. “So please teach your children to stand up for themselves,” he said.
The spinner went on to slam Morgan and Southee, saying they have no right to take the moral high ground or to use derogatory language.
“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.”
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“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,” he wrote.
This is not the first time that Ashwin is being pulled into a 'spirit of the game debate', and the outspoken cricketer makes his stance clear every time.
KKR beat Delhi Capitals in a low-scoring game to stay in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs.
