STEVE SMITH CRIES, TOP INDIAN CRICKETERS COME IN DEFENCE

Australia cricketer Steve Smith broke down on Thursday while addressing the media, taking full responsibility for the ball-tampering scandal that led to a year’s ban for the batsman. Following the 28-year-old’s emotional press conference, Indian cricketers Ravichandran Ashwin and Gautam Gambhir jumped to the defence of Smith and other cricketers involved in the scandal. Gambhir wrote on Twitter that Smith “doesn’t look to me a cheat,” adding, “While cricket needs to be corruption-free but feel sanctions on Aussies bit harsh.” Ashwin wrote, “The world simply wants to see you cry, once you have cried they will feel satisfied and live happily ever after.”

I may be getting emotional but @stevesmith49 doesn’t look to me a cheat. Don’t know about u but I see in him a desperate leader trying to win a Test match for his country, his team. Yes, indeed, his methods were questionable but let’s not label him corrupt #BallTamperingScandal pic.twitter.com/xOxAM45QXM

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) March 29, 2018

While cricket needs to be corruption-free but feel sanctions on Aussies bit harsh. Are @stevesmith49 & @davidwarner31 paying for revolt for pay hike? History has it administrators deride those who standup for players’ cause. Classic case: Ian Chappell #BallTampering #StevenSmith

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) March 29, 2018

The world simply wants to see you cry, once you have cried they will feel satisfied and live happily ever after. If only Empathy was not just a Word and people still had it. God give @stevesmith49 and Bancroft all the strength to come out of this.🙏

— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) March 30, 2018

And @davidwarner31 will also need the strength to fight it out, hopefully their players union will provide them with all the support.

— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) March 30, 2018