'Teach your children to stand up for themselves' - Ashwin slams critics over 'Spirit of the Game' row

Delhi Capitals (DC) spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has responded to the criticism he has been receiving following his argument with Eoin Morgan and Tim Southee during the Delhi Capitals' game against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

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The ace spinner was slammed for playing against the 'Spirit of the Game' after he tried to take a run of the ball that ricocheted of Rishabh Pant's body, following which Eoin Morgan, Tim Southee and Ravichandran Ashwin got into a heated argument. Even Australia legend Shane Warne slammed Ashwin for his behaviour. The off-spinner seems to have taken enough and has tried to clarify his side of the story in a series of tweets.

“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.”

Ashwin said he has been taught to take a stand for himself and that’s what he did in that game.“So please teach your children to stand up for themselves,” he said.

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.

— Mask up and take your vaccine🙏🙏🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) September 30, 2021

Ashwin further lambasted Morgan and Tim Southee and said he need not to learn the morals of the game from anyone. "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 wrote.

He also tore apart his critics saying the definition of the 'Spirit of the Game' is different for him. “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.”

“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 Ashwin has been dragged into the 'Spirit of the Game debate'. Earlier, he was criticised for Mankading Jos Buttler in the 2019 IPL.