Ravichandran Ashwin-Herschelle Gibbs Twitter war: A look at cricket's most famous spats on microblogging website

Ravichandran Ashwin is in the news again, even though he isn’t physically present in South Africa, where India are battling it out in the last leg of what has been a marathon tour.

Instead, it his now-infamous spat with former South African cricketer Herschelle Gibbs that has led to him dominating the headlines once again.

Ashwin, who was part of the Indian team in the first two Tests against South Africa in the ongoing tour, posted a video promoting a shoe by American sportswear giant Nike on his Twitter account.

The off-spinner isn’t exactly known for being the quickest on the field or between the wickets, and that is exactly what Gibbs as alluding to in his jibe while replying on the post with the words: “Hopefully you will be able to run a bit faster now ashwin.”

While Gibbs’ comment might have been light-hearted in nature, Ashwin, didn’t take it lightly, and retorted with a reference to Gibbs’ alleged involvement in match-fixing.

“Surely not as fast as you did, mate, unfortunately I wasn’t as blessed as you were. But I was blessed with a wonderfully ethical mind not to fix games which put food on my plate,” wrote Ashwin in a tweet, which he later deleted. Gibbs chose to walk out of the conversation, but not before saying: “Can’t take a joke i see anyway moving swiftly on..”

The exchange between the two went on to set the Twitterati abuzz, with many users, a lot of them Indian fans, criticising Ashwin for what has been perceived as an overreaction. The incident, however, isn’t the first time the Tamil Nadu off-spinner has been in the dock for his posts on the microblogging website.

Let us now take a look at some of his infamous exchanges in the past on Twitter:

Ashwin decided to have a bit of a tussle with a Bangladesh fan during the team’s group stage match against minnows Oman, when he suggested that the whole cricketing fraternity would be happy in the event of the latter’s victory.

Can't wait to see the Bangladesh v Oman game.If Bangladesh win,the whole country will be happy but if Oman does Cricket will be happy.#WT20

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) March 13, 2016

@ashwinravi99 I reckon you praying for Oman to win as you don't wanna face the Tigers!!!!

— MD (@azad317) March 13, 2016

Ashwin isn’t the only cricketer either to have been involved in controversial statements and conversations on social media.

Banned Indian speedster S Sreesanth had a go at former India opener Aakash Chopra, when the latter was stating his opinion against the BCCI giving tainted cricketers a second chance.

@cricketaakash how can u be so 2 faced?? Bro?? Ashamed to even call u that ..really sad to know (what have u replied?? Really..I will play pic.twitter.com/r4Ervw5sox

— Sreesanth (@sreesanth36) February 3, 2017

yes,looking forward to hear ur commentary when I play..which will be very soon

— Sreesanth (@sreesanth36) February 3, 2017

Kevin Pietersen and Mitchell Johnson have had many a run-in on the cricket ground, especially during the 2013-14 Ashes. The two were once again having a go at each other during an Ashes campaign Down Under, though neither was representing their respective country on the field.

Johnson, who quit international cricket in 2015, instead decided to have a go at cricket-turned-commentator Pietersen for his analysis through a post on Twitter, which escalated in no time.

  Then there was a case of infighting in the South African cricket community, with former cricketers Ashwell Prince and Paul Harris having a bit of an argument over AB de Villiers’ place in the Proteas Test side.

As ex players why not pick up the phone and call him instead of having a go on Twitter. #justathought

— paul harris (@paulharris12) August 11, 2017

@paulharris12 Didn't hear you say that when both Biff and Faf hung Vern out to dry in public did I? Some #proteafire they've got going there https://t.co/Eupnge82aO

— Ashwell Prince (@ashyp_5) August 11, 2017

O my word Ash....why always looking for a fight. We were all team mates once. There are better ways of going about it than Twitter. Surely.

— paul harris (@paulharris12) August 11, 2017