Twitter slams Paul Collingwood after he praises Virat Kohli's send-off to R Ashwin

Virat Kohli hogged the limelight for all the wrong reasons after the thrilling game between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab came to an end on Wednesday. Emotions ran high throughout the game as both the captains – Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin – led the show in charged up manners. Both the captains looked animated throughout but it was Kohli who had the last laugh although he faced criticism for the very same reason.

It all happened in the very final over of the game when Kings XI Punjab needed an improbable 27 runs off the final over with Ravichandran Ashwin 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 miscuing it to Kohli at long-on and it led to some wild scenes. A charged-up Kohli did not refrain from giving Ashwin an animated send-off while also hurling some choicest of abuses.

The Royal Challenges skipper, who was given a send-off by Ashwin earlier in the game,  also mocked his India teammate’s Makading 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 criticising him while some also justifying it.

“I just played with passion, so does he. That’s it,” Ashwin had said while downplaying the whole incident.

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 Virat Kohli for that unique send-off while also pointing out the Mankad controversy.

“Love @imVkohli reaction catching @ashwinravi99 Great entertainment @RCBTweets and @IPL !! 👏🏻 Mother cricket always gets you!! #mankad,” wrote Collingwood.

Love @imVkohli reaction catching @ashwinravi99 Great entertainment @RCBTweets and @IPL !! 👏🏻 Mother cricket always gets you!! #mankad

— Paul Collingwood (@Colly622) April 24, 2019

Fans slate Collingwood:

Collingwood’s tweet, however, did not go down well with some fans and they slammed him. Here are some of the reactions.

The British are at it again with their "Divide and Rule" policy.

— Kunal Sharma (@KunalSh44418069) April 24, 2019

Ashwin Anna living rent free inside the heads of poms haha. Loving it!

— Saurabh 🏏 (@SteynGun_) April 24, 2019

😂😂😂 Ashwin is living rent free in these English cricketers heads. Keep crying! 😁

— Kay Kay (@kaykaySRTfan) 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 😂😂

— ᴠᴀʀᴜsᴀɪ (@Dr_varusai) 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.M.A (@Arun_M_A) 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

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