Debates have erupted across social media and in the cricketing world following Kings XI Punjab skipper Ravichandran Ashwin’s decision to ‘Mankad’ Jos Butler during the Kings XI Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals match on Monday.
Sadly it did not just end with an on-field banter but turned into an abusive affair as sexist abusive trolls resorted to targeting Ashwin’s wife Prithi and their daughters after the controversial ‘Mankading’ incident on the cricket field.
The incident began when Prithi Ashwin expressed her opinion on Twitter regarding the incident stating that they were rules and camera to judge the incident and asked trolls to stop spamming her on the timeline and said they should instead mention it on her husband Ashwin’s timeline.
There are rules. And cameras. Now stop spamming my mentions and do it on Ashwin’s timeline. Also, Awwwwww Ankit . ?
— Prithi Ashwin (@prithinarayanan) March 25, 2019
Soon followed trolling and spamming against Prithi Ashwin after she mentioned what her husband did was within the limits of the rules of the game. Prithi, however soon realised that she is being constantly trolled, she mentioned how Instagram was much nicer than Twitter, but only to realise that Instagram was much far worse for her and her daughters as filthy abuses were instantly thrown at Ashwin’s family, especially at their young daughter.
Said it too soon. Makkus are leaving messages to my babies on my pictures. Excellent. How so much intelligence and all?
— Prithi Ashwin (@prithinarayanan) March 25, 2019
Many abusive trolls began to attack and comment hatefully against Ashwin family on Instagram despite they had nothing to do with Ashwin’s ‘Mankading’ incident.
So callled ‘spirited’ cricket fans commenting on Ashwin’s wife’s insta account to their kids .. where is spirit of life gone guys?? How disgraceful! pic.twitter.com/UeDhkSvfpO
— Ishan Yadav Mahal (@BeingIshanCric) March 25, 2019
. @instagram should ban Ann these accounts #ashwin how conveniently these are asking for spirit of the game.. cheap! pic.twitter.com/wp9RJPla4b
— Ishan Yadav Mahal (@BeingIshanCric) March 25, 2019
The cricketing incident that occurred during an IPL match has divided the social media, while some questioned Ashwin’s respect to the spirit of cricket while others defended him by saying he was well within the stated rules of the ICC and MCC to ‘Mankad’ out Jos Butler, who was disturbing the bowler’s rhythm throughout that over.
Meanwhile, Ashwin has defended himself and responded to the accusations by saying that the dismissal was “instinctive” and not a planned one.
“On my part, it was very instinctive and it was not planned or anything like that,” Ashwin said. It is there in the rules of the game. I don’t know where the understanding of the spirit of the game comes from because quite naturally if it’s there in the rules, it’s there. So probably the rules need to go back and be sorted,” said Ashwin.
