‘He has done nothing wrong’ – Gautam Gambhir backs Ravi Ashwin over his row with Eoin Morgan and Tim Southee

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has backed Ravi Ashwin after the latter had to face a lot of flak for going against the Spirit of Cricket. During the match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders, Ashwin tried to steal a run after the ball ricocheted of Rishabh Pant’s bat. After DC’s innings ended, the 35-year-old entered into a verbal war with Eoin Morgan and Tim Southee.

Later, former KKR captain Dinesh Karthik also spoke about the entire incident in the post-match press conference and he was happy to have played the role of a “peacemaker” in the saga. Gambhir, meanwhile, had Ashwin’s back at a time when the cricket fraternity and the netizens have hurled loads of criticism at the latter for not showing sportsman-spirit.

What he did was well within the rules, says Gautam Gambhir

Gambhir was clear cut in saying that Ashwin wasn’t wrong in his actions and that he played within the rules of the illustrious game. The veteran also reckoned that people are talking about the incident to get more social media followers.

“I back Ravichandran Ashwin 100 percent. What he did was well within the rules. He has done nothing wrong,” Gambhir was quoted as saying on Star Sports.

“And there are so many people who are jumping into it, they have got nothing to do with it. Probably to increase some social media followers or to have some presence somewhere so that people can talk about it. It makes no sense. R Ashwin is absolutely correct,” he added.

On September 30, the 35-year-old Ashwin dropped a series of tweets, putting forward his own take on the whole incident. The Tamil Nadu-born stated that he stood up for himself, something his teachers and parents taught him since childhood.

Ashwin believed that giving one’s heart and soul on the field, playing within the rules and shaking hands after the game should be deemed as the Spirit of Cricket. Earlier, Former Australia cricketer Shane Warne termed the incident in Sharjah ‘disgraceful’.

On Tuesday, DC lost to the Knights by three wickets, but it was Ashwin, who went on to dismiss Morgan for a two-ball duck.