Ravichandran Ashwin, an India spinner, took to Twitter on Thursday to comment on David Warner’s six off Mohammad Hafeez during Australia’s five-wicket win over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup semi-finals in Dubai. Former India opener Gautam Gambhir raised the “spirit of the game” debate in a tweet on Thursday, prompting Ashwin’s response. “What an absolutely pathetic display of spirit of the game by Warner! #Shameful What say @ashwinravi99?” Gambhir wrote on Twitter on Thursday after Warner took advantage of Hafeez’s miscued double-bounce delivery and hit a six off it.

In response to Gambhir’s comment, an Australian journalist tweeted, “Bad take Gautam.”

Also Read | It’s India vs Australia as women’s cricket debuts at 2022 Commonwealth Games

Ashwin responded to the tweet, saying, “His point is that if this is right , that was right. If that was wrong , this is wrong too. Fair assessment?”

Ashwin was referring to the backlash he received after ‘Mankading’ Jos Buttler in an IPL match in 2019.

“Warner just played the ball in front of him – did nothing wrong,” a Twitter user commented on Ashwin’s tweet.

After that, the veteran Indian spinner said he didn’t see anything wrong with Warner leveraging the miscued delivery.

Also Read | Did a Penguin predict T20 World Cup winner? Anand Mahindra thinks so

“Absolutely it was a wonderful hit by @davidwarner31. Great shot,” Ashwin tweeted in response.

Australia will face New Zealand in the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup final at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, in a ‘Trans-Tasmanian’ match. For the first time in the history of the marquee ICC event, both countries will strive to win the tournament. 

After thrilling semi-finals, both teams advanced to the final. In Abu Dhabi, New Zealand defeated England by 5 wickets to avenge their heartbreaking loss in the 2019 Cricket World Cup final. The next day, Australia stunned Pakistan by winning by the same score in Dubai.

Both teams finished second in their Super 12 group after winning four of their five games. Australia’s only loss in the tournament came against England, while New Zealand’s only loss came against Pakistan in their first game.