The RCB skipper, Virat Kohli received a lot of criticism during a nail-biter between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) came to an end on Wednesday. Both the skipper, Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin are known to lead their respective teams in a charged up manner and this game was no exception as they were looking animated throughout but it was Kohli who had the last laugh although he faced criticism for the very same reason.
Things got a bit heated during the final over of the game when KXIP needed an improbable 27 runs off 6 balls with Ashwin was up against Umesh Yadav. Ashwin started the over on a fine note by hitting a six. He went for the maximum on the following delivery too but ended up mistiming it to Kohli at long-on and it led to some wild scenes. A charged-up Kohli did not refrain from giving Ashwin a high-spirited send-off while also hurling some choicest of abuses.
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The RCB skipper, who was given a send-off by Ashwin earlier in the game, also mocked his India teammate’s Mankading act with gestures. A miffed Ashwin then threw his gloves at the KXIP dugout after failing to take his team over the line. Following the game, there was a widespread reaction to the incident with many criticizing him while some also justifying it. He said, “I just played with passion, so does he. That’s it.”
Meanwhile, one of the high-profile names who commented on the controversial incident was former England skipper Paul Collingwood. The former batsman took to Twitter to laud Kohli for that unique send-off while also pointing out the Mankad controversy.
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Collingwood tweeted, “Love @imVkohli reaction catching @ashwinravi99 Great entertainment @RCBTweets and @IPL !! 👏🏻 Mother cricket always gets you!! #mankad”.
Love @imVkohli reaction catching @ashwinravi99 Great entertainment @RCBTweets and @IPL !! 👏🏻 Mother cricket always gets you!! #mankad
— Paul Collingwood (@Colly622) April 24, 2019
Collingwood’s tweet, however, did not go down well with some fans and they slammed him. Here are some of the reactions.
https://twitter.com/KunalSh44418069/status/1121128457600217093
https://twitter.com/SteynGun_/status/1121118804841381888
😂😂😂 Ashwin is living rent free in these English cricketers heads. Keep crying! 😁
— Kay Kay (@AdobePaavi) April 24, 2019
Dear Paul, let me remind you! You, the captain of England team then, took ur team to a side quietly and didn't take back ur appeal vs Elliot in oval for that infamous run out.. If you were in the "spirit of the game" then, Mankad is also fair and square!
— Easwaran (@easwaranag30) April 24, 2019
Ashwin into every Englishmen heads 😂😂
— VARUSAI (@Drvarusaimd) April 24, 2019
Mr. Paul, Last ball one run to win
Does the English men allow the fellow non striker to gain couple of inches,
Cricket should be equally friendly for bowler and batsman Mr. Allrounder #peace— Arun Mohankumar Anitha (@arunma2012) April 24, 2019
Cheap thrills.
Ashwin didn't cross the line butler did… And of course as a batsmen you and Virat will want all the adv you want won't you.— Siddharth K (@siddhu134) April 24, 2019