It takes one wrong fact to kick off debate on Twitter. It is funny and sometimes hectic at the same time. Things can get overboard and stretch abnormally long if one of them is a true lover of controversies and banters. Fortunately, most of the banter that emerges start and ends quickly. But, the shots fired at each other can be bit brutal or filled with arrogance.
Vikrant Gupta gets his fact wrong
During the 2nd day’s play of the 1st Test between Indi and Sri Lanka, two experts – Aaj Tak’s Vikrant Gupta and former Sri Lankan cricketer and commentator Russel Arnold – got into an argument over the correctness of a fact.
Indian, after resuming at 399/4, amassed 600 on day two in the first innings. The score could have been larger had the Lankan bowling attack failed to contain the Indians today. Fortunately for India, Hardik Pandya struck a half century on debut and Mohammad Shami made a valuable contribution using his attacking approach to see India reach the 600 run mark.
Just when the innings culminated, Arnold posted an interesting fact where he mentioned: The last time India scored 500+ against SL in SL in the first innings of a Bilateral test match…. SL replied with 952.
It was a historic Test match and took the fans twenty years back when Sanath Jayasuriya smashed the historic 340 run knock.
However, Gupta, a senior journalist, felt the fact was wrong. He tweeted: Incorrect @RusselArnold69 ! The last India scored 500+ was in 2010 (SSC) when they got 707. And BTW, wake up, that 952 was ’97, this is 2017.
Gupta was right but failed to understand the context of Arnold’s tweet. He wrote about Sri Lanka following up India’s 500 plus first innings total with a massive score and not overall record about which Gupta replied.
Incorrect @RusselArnold69 ! The last India scored 500+ was in 2010 (SSC) when they got 707. And BTW, wake up, that 952 was '97, this is 2017 https://t.co/IYFvG8BNFG
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) July 27, 2017
The Lankan was in no mood to backup and gave a quick reply
Correct… read carefully …check facts… and pl send apology..even if you don't its ok – Cheers
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) July 27, 2017
A user clarified the facts which made Russel tweet:
Thanks …sometimes you have to explain detail by detail to people…..phew
Thanks …sometimes you have to explain detail by detail to people…..phew
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) July 27, 2017
But, Gupta was also interested in bowing out despite finding himself on the wrong foot.
He tweeted: “Don’t worry Russel. Think someone is paying you to explain to people detail by detail..phew”
Don't worry Russel. Think someone is paying you to explain to people detail by detail..phew
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) July 27, 2017
Eventually, both shook hands and concluded the matter
Apology? I should send you? Because your facts were wrong? Now that's the doosra @RusselArnold69 ! https://t.co/bKwXJXESre
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) July 27, 2017
Right. Cheers
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) July 27, 2017
Boria Majumdar, another famed writer, assumed the matter was getting heated up but it was just two enthusiasts getting into a friendly argument.
The run out was unfortunate for sri lanka. a fight was on. Not as good as on Twitter between my friends @vikrantgupta73 and @RusselArnold69
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) July 27, 2017