Images of Virat Kohli and Ricky Ponting having a lively discussion in Abu Dhabi went viral on social media when Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore met for the second time at IPL 2020.
Ricky Ponting, who was on the field, during a strategic wait time, was seen arguing with Royal Challengers Bangalore players and support staff, including Virat Kohli and Simon Katich. The Delhi Capitals coach was reportedly defending the team’s decision not to have R Ashwin on the field after the off-court player suffered a minor injury.
R Ashwin, on his YoTube show on Wednesday, revealed that there was a usual hot moment on the field when the two sides battled for 2 crucial points at Zayed Stadium. The spinner said Ricky Ponting was having a few words with the opposition field, saying his decision not to let him play after his 4 overs was due to injury concerns and nothing else.
Fans were left wondering what had happened on the field when Ponting and Kohli were having a heated argument in the middle, but R Ashwin has put an end to the speculation.
“I had a back problem when I ran. It was excruciating pain. They took MRIs and it tracked down to a nervous pull on my back. I came out after bowling. The opposition thought, I threw 4 overs and I went in. They asked ‘How did I go? is it possible to do that?’.
“Ricky, we all know it, he never backs down from a fight. And when RCB asked, he said we’re not like that. It was just in the heat of the moment,” R Ashwin said.
‘I’ve always liked bowling at Virat’
In particular, Delhi Capitals won their match against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Abu Dhabi by 6 wickets, as they comfortably fired at a 153-run target. It was R Ashwin who picked up Virat Kohli’s great wicket to break a 57-run position for the second wicket between RCB captain and starter Devdutt Padikkal.
R. Ashwin said it was a nice moment for him, as Virat Kohli had been determined not to hand over his window to his teammate in India in the recent past.
“I have always liked bowling with Virat. He would never take a chance against me. He would not give his wicket; it was a matter of pride for him. MS Dhoni is like that too. It was a happy and pleasant moment; a kind of personal justification, “Ashwin said.
Delhi Capitals’ race at IPL 2020 came to an end in the final, as they were comfortably outscored by the Mumbai Indians in Dubai on Tuesday. Under the leadership of Ricky Ponting, DC reached its first final in IPL history and appears poised for tough challenges down the road.
