Twitter trolls Ricky Ponting for teaching Ravi Ashwin about the spirit of the game

On Wednesday, the IPL franchise Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting had made it clear that he will be having a hard conversation with the Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin regarding the ‘mankading’ incident that he pulled against Jos Buttler in the previous edition of the Indian Premier League. Ponting had backed his stance saying that this is against the spirit of the gentleman’s game.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to kick-start the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League from September 19, with the final to take place on November 10 in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Ahead of the 2020 edition, Ashwin was traded to Delhi Capitals.

Last year while captaining Kings XI Punjab, Ashwin had dismissed the Rajasthan Royals batsman Jos Buttler by mankading as he was backing up on the non-striker’s end. This has led to a huge controversy. While some had supported the spinner saying that this is within the rules of the sport, many had criticized him for not maintaining the spirit of the game.

Twitterati trolls Ricky Ponting for preaching about ‘spirit of the game’

The former Australian captain had thrashed Ashwin saying that this kind of thing would not be tolerated in Delhi Capitals as this is not the way they play their cricket. He had added that he will be having a hard conversation with the Indian Stalwart and he hopes that Ashwin takes it to the chin.

Speaking on The Grade Cricketer Podcast, Ponting had said, “So, that’s going to be a conversation and that’s going to be a hard conversation I will have to have with him, but I’m pretty sure he’ll take it on the chin. I think, even him, looking back now, probably he’d say it was within the rules and he’s right to do it, but this is not within the spirit of the game, not in the way I want, at least with the Delhi Capitals anyway.”

However, these statements by the former Australian captain didn’t go well with many cricket fans across the globe. As a result, Ponting was subjected to a lot of hate and criticism on Twitter. People called him a hypocrite for talking about the spirit of the game. Many Twitter users trolled Ponting for speaking about sportsmanship and made him remind the instances where he himself had tried to influence the umpires for giving the decision in his team’s favour.

Here are the best tweets

He was the fiercest competitor of his time. He is also without a doubt one of the best pundits going around, not to mention my favorite ever non-Indian batsman. BUT for Ricky Ponting, of all people, to preach about the ‘spirit of the game’… https://t.co/zkVapm8edW

— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) August 19, 2020

Batsman leaving the crease before the ball is delivered, when they know they're getting an advantage, is that in the spirit of the game!#cricket #IPL2020 https://t.co/seSB4fv89z

— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) August 20, 2020

Good morning to everybody except Ricky Ponting.

— Manya (@CSKian716) August 20, 2020

Very glad to see that 12 years after Sydney the coach of the Capitals is saying he wants his team to play the game in the “spirit of the game”. ⁦@g_rajaraman⁩ ⁦@sunandanlele⁩ Hindi saying “देर आए दुरुस्त आए”. pic.twitter.com/NnO438z5RO

— PRAKASH WAKANKAR (@pakwakankar) August 19, 2020

Ashwin should do 2-3 mankads this IPL. It is well within the rules and none of that spirit of cricket bullsh!t coming from none other than Ponting.

— The Joker 🃏 (@Joker122018) August 19, 2020

Ricky Ponting today : Mankad is not within the spirit of the game and will stop R. Ashwin from doing so.

Also Ponting in the 2008 SCG game, showing his spirit of the game by telling the umpire to give OUT : pic.twitter.com/5CMUfH29un

— S🔥R (@iamsagarcastic) August 19, 2020

Ponting discussing Spirit of game! #IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/s7KFZumm9f

— Monica (@monicas004) August 19, 2020

Having seen Ponting in his playing days, he will most probably advice Ashwin to push the batsman out of the crease and then run him out. https://t.co/VGMDexb0GC

— Gappistan Radio (@GappistanRadio) August 19, 2020

Ponting teaching 'Spirit of Cricket' is like RCB teaching 'How to win IPL'.

— Abhay 🏏 (@cricabhay) August 19, 2020

Ponting talks about 'Spirit of Cricket' asks Ashwin to not 'mankad'

Ashwin: pic.twitter.com/9S5z2jllh9

— Sattu Supari🔪 (@Rahulismm) August 19, 2020

Imagine the environment around a Franchise when the Head Coach openly warns a Star Player for something he has always stood for.

ABSOLUTE NONSENSE BY PONTING. #Cricket

— That Cricket Guy 🐼 (@_Vivek_50) August 19, 2020

Ponting : no mankads while i am head coach of DC.

Ashwin : i will

Ponting : you can't

Ashwin : i will

Ponting : pic.twitter.com/6h94uezKI4

— Tej (@why_tej) August 19, 2020

The message to Delhi's opponents is clear – stand as far out of your crease as you want. Any non-striker who doesn't leave the crease early against them is as much of an idiot as Ponting. https://t.co/k79cqENs9w

— Andrew Nixon (@andrewnixon79) August 19, 2020

A cricket coach is going to ask his senior player not to follow a law of the game. And sanctimonious cricket pundits are going to celebrate it. What a Shame.

Ponting bhai, aap coaching karo na yaar. Let players make their choices on the ground as per rules of the game. https://t.co/AyBvpiTfku

— cricBC (@cricBC) August 19, 2020