Outburst Of Tweets As R Ashwin Opened Up After Spat With Morgan-Southee About 'Spirit Of Game'

Ashwin opened up with his side of the story after a lot of critics and formers cricketers said that the spinner was not within the "spirit of the game". This sparked a huge debate. Check it out below!

Ravi Ashwin and Tim Southee during their verbal spat. (Getty Images)

Twitter seemed divided on the verbal spat between Ravichandran Ashwin and Eoin Morgan/Tim Southee. The incident occurred during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

Ashwin opened up with his side of the story after a lot of critics and formers cricketers said that the spinner was not within the "spirit of the game". Ashwin said that Morgan and Southee "do not have the right to take a moral high ground". 

But What Was The Matter?

Ravi Ashwin was batting with Rishabh Pant for DC when he took a second run despite the ball being deflected off Pant. Morgan and Southee were of the opinion that Ashwin should have denied taking that single run as it is not within the spirit of cricket. 

Later, when Ashwin picked up Morgan's wicket, he bid goodbye to the batsman with an animated reaction, which again, irked some pundits. 

Let's Take A Look At Ashwin's Statements 

"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 said.

"Did I fight? No, I stood up for myself and that's what my teachers and parents taught me to do and pls (please) teach your children to stand up for themselves," he continued. 

Ashwin urged not to take a moral high ground on the issue. He said, "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," he further wrote.

Many, including Shane Warne had jumped in the debate and questioned Ashwin, to which he replied: "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"

Take a look at some divided Twitter opinions on the matter

Let’s first award NZ the 4 runs of that fateful World Cup final and then we can have a proper conversation on this. Let’s be clear: Ashwin was very much within his rights to run. Laws are there for a reason. https://t.co/7lbFzpGGeH

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) September 30, 2021

I would pay incredibly good money to watch Ravichandran Ashwin deliver the MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture.

— Isabelle Westbury (@izzywestbury) September 30, 2021

Ashwin--Morgan-verbal spat pic.twitter.com/ynz9HUwt27

— gauravkanodia (@gauravkanodia4) September 29, 2021

Ashwin says he didn’t see the ball hit Pant before they took that single against KKR. Fair enough: I believe him. But why are so many bringing up the ricochet off Stokes’s bat in the WC final as evidence Morgan is being hypocritical? It was very lucky, but Stokes didn’t run.

— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) September 30, 2021

Because they’re runs if the ball crosses the boundary. But the etiquette of the game is that you don’t run if you’ve caused the deflection. It’s just one of those unspoken spirit of the game things https://t.co/OPDHrtjd6W

— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) September 30, 2021

Well, very little can be said on the 'spirit' of the game as it a moral concept that can differ from person to person. Which side of the debate are you on?