The controversy over the overthrow during the Delhi Capitals-Kolkata Knight Riders clash on Tuesday refuses to die down. It all began with a brief verbal confrontation between Delhi’s Ashwin and the experienced KKR pair of Eoin Morgan and Tim Southee. At the heart of the matter was a run taken off a ball, which had ricocheted off Rishabh Pant’s body.

Some former players, such as Shane Warne, had their say on the incident, calling the Ashwin’s actions “disgraceful.”

The world shouldn’t be divided on this topic and Ashwin. It’s pretty simple – it’s disgraceful & should never happen. Why does Ashwin have to be that guy again ? I think @Eoin16 had every right to nail him !!!! https://t.co/C2g5wYjeT6

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) September 29, 2021

Ashwin has now responded to the controversy in a sequence of tweets.

He began by describing his version of events, stating that he never saw the ball hitting Pant, before taking off for a run. However, he went on to elaborate, “Will I run if I see it!? Of course I will and I am allowed to.”

He also added that he wasn’t a “disgrace” like he claims Eoin Morgan had called him.

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 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) September 30, 2021

He continued: “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.”

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.
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

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) September 30, 2021

He slammed Southee and Morgan, stating that they had the right to “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.”

right to take a moral high ground and use words that are derogatory.

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!

To all the ‘Cricket is a gentleman’s game’ fans in the house’:⬇️⬇️⬇️

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) September 30, 2021

He then explained his wider outlook on the matter. He said: “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”.

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 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) September 30, 2021

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.

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) September 30, 2021

Ashwin then went on to give his definition of the spirit of the game: “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.”

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.

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) September 30, 2021