'You can have disagreements but words like 'disgrace', 'ashamed' are too harsh' - Deep Dasgupta on Ashwin-Morgan spat

The spat between Ravi Ashwin and Eoin Morgan has grabbed the attention of the cricketing fraternity. The experts, onlookers, and former cricketers have been coming forward to express their opinions on the same. The latest to join the list is former India cricketer and commentator Deep Dasgupta.

The incident occurred in the 19th over of the match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders. An over-throw from KKR’s fielder hit Rishabh Pant’s arm and that is when Ashwin and the keeper-batter grabbed an extra run. This did not go quite well with the KKR captain Eoin Morgan. Thus, after the off-spinner was out in the very next ball, Morgan and bowler Tim Southee got involved in a heated argument with him.

Dasgupta was not happy with the words that were used in the argument against India’s ace spinner. He also expressed his disappointment with Shane Warne’s recent statement on this incident. About the spirit of the game, the former cricketer said that it depends on individuals as to where the line is drawn.

If there is only disagreement, better words could have been used: Deep Dasgupta

“My opinion can be different and I may disagree with Ashwin, and that is fine. But the words that have been used so far like ‘disgrace’ and ‘ashamed,’ are very harsh words. These are extremely, extremely harsh words. If there is only disagreement, better words could have been used.

“Just because your thoughts are different and mine are different from yours, does not mean words like these are used. Especially from influential people and role models in cricket. Feel weird hearing things like these from them. What I think is that the rules of the game is a line, and the spirit of the cricket can be drawn anywhere inside the line, depends on you. The line is a barrier, as long as it is being drawn inside of it, there should not be any issue,” Deep Dasgupta said on his YouTube channel.

After this matter got heated up, Ravi Ashwin came up with a series of tweets and explained his part. In one of his tweets, he wrote that he did not know that the ball had hit Pant’s arm. He added that even if he had known it, he would have gone for the run as it was well within the rules of the game.