Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
The second leg of IPL 2021 has picked up its pace and the teams are going full throttle to secure a place in the top four. One team that has done remarkably well since the start of the second phase is Kolkata Knight Riders. They have won three out of four fixtures and are eyeing the fourth spot for the playoffs. In their fourth game of the second leg, they had Delhi Capitals who have already gained a significant lead with 16 points.
It was the 41st match of the league where KKR and DC locked horns on a hot and humid day in Sharjah. KKR captain Eoin Morgan won the toss and decided to bowl first. His bowlers did a great job to restrict Delhi to a below-par total which they chased down comfortably. However, it was something that took place during the first innings that grabbed eyeballs.
It was the 19th over in the game when Rishabh Pant and Ravichandran Ashwin were batting. A throw hit Pant’s arm and got deflected, sensing that there was a run, the two batsmen cashed in on the opportunity. However, it did not go well with the KKR camp as it seemed on the next delivery. Southee got Ashwin caught on leg side and uttered a few words to him. Ashwin too was seen saying something, and then stepped in Eoin Morgan, who started taking on the DC spinner.
Watch Here: Ashwin gets involved in heated exchange with Southee and Morgan during DC-KKR match
As things started heating up, Dinesh Karthik came in between and separated the two players, and ensured things didn't go south. Karthik later narrated the incident and revealed what went wrong.
“Rahul Tripathi threw the ball, it hit Rishabh Pant, and then it ricocheted off that. Then (Ravichandran) Ashwin called for it and they started to run. I don’t think (Eoin) Morgan appreciates that. He is somebody who, when the ball hits the batsman or the pad, expects them not to run in the spirit of cricket. It’s a very grey area and a very interesting topic. I have my own opinion on it but at the moment I’d just say I am happy I played peacemaker and things have come to a good standstill right now,” Karthik said at the virtual press conference.
Interestingly, it was Ashwin who had the last laugh as he got Morgan out for a duck and celebrated in a fiery manner. The video of his send-off to Morgan went viral on social media in no time, considering the drama that preceded the moment.