IPL 2021: Ashwin opens up on ‘good vs bad’ debate after spat with Eoin Morgan

Delhi Capitals’ spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who was involved in an heated altercation with Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Eoin Morgan when the two sides clashed this week, in a six-tweet thread presented his side of the incident. The former Punjab Kings captain slammed Morgan, Kiwi pacer Tim Southee and all those who questioned his ‘morals’ after the spat. 

In the last ball of the 19th over, Ashwin tried stealing an extra run after KKR fielder Rahul Tripathi’s throw ricocheted off DC captain Rishabh Pant’s body. After dismissing the off-spinner in the last over, pacer Tim Southee appeared to have said something in relation to the extra run. This sparked an argument, which was also joined by Morgan. Ashwin and the English captain were separated by Dinesh Karthik.

After the match, Karthik said Morgan ‘did not appreciate’ Ashwin running for that extra run as he felt it was against the ‘spirit of the game’.

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While Virender Sehwag took a dig at Morgan, several cricket experts including Aussie spin wizard Shane Warne slammed Ashwin. 

The Chennai-born player responded to Eoin Morgan’s ‘disgrace’ comment in his tweet. 

“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 in his first tweet of the thread.

Ashwin added that he was standing up for himself. 

“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.

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“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,” Ashwin added. 

Coming to those who criticised him for the incident, he said that 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. 

“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!

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“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,” Ashwin further wrote.

“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,” he said.

“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,” read his final tweet.