Delhi Capitals off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin revealed what exactly transpired between him and KKR captain Eoin Morgan on Tuesday in Sharjah.
During the Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders match, in the 19th over Ashwin had run to the other end after the ball hit his batting partner Rishabh Pant’s arm and ricocheted away. Eoin Morgan felt it wasn’t in the spirit of the game to take a run since the overthrow was because of the batsman coming in the line of the ball. And when he got out in the 20th over, Eoin Morgan and bowler Tim Southee got involved in a heated exchange with Ashwin.
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’. Although, these runs are perfectly legal under the laws of the game.
“Rahul Tripathi threw the ball, it hit Rishabh Pant and then ricocheted. And Ashwin called for it and they started to run. I don’t think Morgan appreciates that. I think he’s somebody who, when the ball hits the batsman or the bat, he expects them not to run in the spirit of cricket,” Karthik said after the match.
‘Am I a disgrace like Morgan said I was’: Ashwin
In a series of tweets on Thursday, Ashwin opened up on the incident and said he was in his right to take the run and he is not disgraceful for it.
“1. I turned to run the moment I saw the fielder throw and dint know the ball had hit Rishabh,” Ashwin tweeted. “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. 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.”
Ashwin wrote, Southee and Morgan had no “right to take the moral high ground”.
“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.”
“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 tweeted.
“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.
