Popular Indian cricketer and veteran off spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, seemingly got annoyed and clapped back at a journalist on being asked about his views on online rummy and gambling despite clarifying that he does not play it.

Ashwin said that why would he talk about something he does not play and have no interest in answering questions on the topic. He asked the reporter that does he want the truth or just there for a new headline.

He then that the same can be said for mobile phone, and the youngster are getting addicted to electronic devices. Ashwin then said that if we take away the mobile phones, they will come back to the ground and play physical sports.

As reported by Sun News Tamil in a tweet, star India all-rounder also added that if the reporter starts a campaign to take smartphones away from youngsters, he would be happy to lead it. Furthermore, he said that at one point, lottery was also illegal. Ashwin also pointed that it is upto people whether they like playing rummy and gambling or not.

He went on to highlight, “If you don’t like it, just don’t play. You are here just for the headlines and nothing else.”

Ongoing tussle in state over Online Rummy

This interview came during a time when there were several debates regarding the recently approved online gambling ban bill in the state of Tamil Nadu. State’s Chief Minister MK Stalin announced that the bill will be gazetted and the law to ban online rummy and nay other games that have stakes will be banned in the state.

While the Supreme Court has recognized online rummy, poker and fantasy sports under Games of Skill, and the recently released amendments to IT Rules also allow them, Tamil Nadu government is still pressing on following their legislation.

The All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) has revealed that they will be challenging the online gambling ban bill in court, saying, “What this law in effect does is treat and conflates games of skill as gambling and games of chance.”