Andrew Symonds, a former Australian cricketer, died in a car accident on Saturday. Symonds, 46, was travelling across northeast Australia’s Hervey Range Road near Alice River Bridge when his car off the road and overturned. Despite repeated attempts to resuscitate him, he died on the scene.
The untimely death of former Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds has shocked the whole cricket community. People from all across the world have paid their respects and shared their memories of the colourful all-rounder.
Yuzvendra Chahal, an Indian leg-spinner, was one of the few Indian players who had a close relationship with the 46-year-old cricketer who died in a vehicle accident on Saturday night.
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Symonds’ death shocked the Rajasthan Royals bowler because of their strong friendship. Chahal’s anguish was palpable in his heartfelt homage to his former IPL teammate, whom he affectionately referred to as “My Symonds uncle.”
Taking to Twitter, he wrote,
“I have lost my closest man. Will miss you terribly. You were just not a colleague. My family, my man. My Symonds uncle. I will miss you terribly. RIP.”
Today I have lost my closest man.
You were just not a colleague
My family, my man
My symonds uncle ❤️ I will miss you terribly
RIP 🙏🏻💔 pic.twitter.com/5BvliutC8f— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) May 15, 2022
When they were both members of the Mumbai Indians team in 2011, the 31-year-old bowler and the Australia all-rounder shared the dressing room. Both athletes were toward the polar of their respective careers. It was Symonds’ final season in the IPL, while Chahal was making his debut and doing little but warming the bench.
Losing a buddy is never easy, and it was clear from Chahal’s post that he was in a lot of grief after losing a colleague who was so dear to him. But still, some people mocked the spin master’s feelings, reminding him of how he had openly claimed that Symonds and another former player, James Franklin, bound his wrists and legs and tapped his lips after becoming intoxicated after the 2011 Champions League victory.
Chahal had previously recounted an incident from 2011 on a podcast when his then MI team-mates James Franklin and Andrew Symonds allegedly tied him up, taped his mouth, left him in a room and forgot about him for a whole night
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) April 8, 2022
During a talk programme, Chahal revealed,
“It was in 2011 after winning champions League in a Chennai hotel. He [Andrew Symonds] had drunk a lot of ‘fruit juice’. I was with him, only. James Franklin and he tied my hands and legs, and said ‘now you have to open’.”
He added,
“They were in so much masti they have taped my mouth and forgot all about me. The party got over and in the morning. When a cleaner came, he saw me and freed me. They asked from when have I been here like this and I told them, ‘From the night itself’.”
Chahal started earlier this year that a MI player nearly murdered him in 2013 when he hanged him up from the 15th floor of the hotel after consuming too much beer. Even after the event became public, many people incorrectly concluded Symonds was the perpetrator.
Yuzvendra Chahal opens up – once again – about another instance of harassment and bullying when he was starting out as a youngster with the Mumbai Indians
👉 https://t.co/ewjb2SRkXB pic.twitter.com/mCFCzhMHlM
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) April 8, 2022
On the basis of this erroneous belief, some individuals began to criticise Chahal for paying an alleged fake homage to the Australian batsman. The unwarranted hostility directed at such a delicate topic was uncalled for and revealed their damaging attitude.
Are bhai kitna close taa pata hai .. Isne tera ko ulti kiya taa
— ನಿರ್ಲಿಪ್ತ (@ImSanjuvp) May 15, 2022
Bro inhone hi ulta latkaya tha na 🌚🌚🌚🌚🌚🌚🌚🌚😜😜 though rip to legend
— Dark Horse (@DarkHor73382692) May 15, 2022
issine balcony mein latkaya tha yuzi ko..
— chintubaba (@chintamani0d) May 15, 2022
Those who question Chahal’s feelings for Symonds should watch this edition of Breakfast with Champions to hear what he had to say about the 2009 IPL champion. It would show them how near the two cricketers were to one another.
Thankfully, several fans were aware of Chahal’s strong relationship with Symonds and sent their condolences to the RR spinner.
And people speculated Symonds name in Chahal’s case at MI. Shame on all such people!
— Rajiv Jha (@RajivJh65236048) May 15, 2022
So many insensitive comments in reply. Have no words to define such humans who feel troll, hate is above all. It’s a known fact how close Yuzi & Roy were. I know what it means to lose a close friend & he has a imp match to play today.
Do well, Yuzi. My condolences for your loss.
— Suvajit Mustafi (@RibsGully) May 15, 2022
You were the first person I thought of when I saw the news.Must be real tough. Stay strong Yuzi. RIP Symonds!
— Parag (@Parag96897) May 15, 2022
I was littrily waiting for Yuzi’s tweet as he mentioned multiple times that how close he was with Symonds. How they use to spend hours fishing, cooking. He was family.. 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔
— Aadi (@0412aadi) May 15, 2022
It’s fine if you don’t like Symonds personally, but such animosity for someone who is no longer with us is revolting. If you can’t express condolences, don’t make fun of those who do.