"It Is Cheating Because..." - Ravi Shastri Backs Bowlers For Non-Striker's Run Out Controversy

The Mankading incident of Deepti Sharma at the Iconic Lord’s has become a talking point for World Cricket. According to the laws of the game, it’s a legal way to dismiss a batter whereas a lot of English Cricketers are raising their voices by stating that it is against the spirit of the game.

MCC had made it clear that the batter should be in the crease and that the way of dismissal is not unfair. Deepti Sharma wouldn’t have thought that her one move will stir World Cricket. Former India Coach Ravi Shastri has come in support of the bowlers by stating that it is not against the rules of the game.

Ravi Shastri on Mankading

Ravi Shastri was having an interaction with Fox Sports and was asked about Mankading. “My thoughts are very clear. It’s a law. A batsman has no business to be wandering out of his crease before the ball is bowled. And the law in cricket says that if you are doing that, the bowler is perfectly entitled to take the bails off,” said Shastri.

“I know that the rule of ‘Mankad’ or ‘Mankading’ was there was a long time and a lot of players are still trying to come to terms with that new law, whether they should be taking off the bails but as a coach, I would tell my players ‘Just go out and do it. It’s a law.

“You’re not cheating, you’re not doing anything that is not part of the game. Batsman should know his business,” he added.

“There is an outrage but it’s because that law did not exist earlier. But my argument is that even if it had existed, I don’t believe this practice when you warn the player the first time and the second time you can do it.

“It’s like me telling a fielder, ‘You’ve dropped me once. Second time you can catch it’. If it’s a law that says it is cheating. It is cheating because if you’re going out of crease, you are trying to steal an advantage over the opposition and the bowler. So you jolly well, hold your ground,” he concluded.

Mankading Incidents Spotted

In the T20I Series between India vs South Africa, Deepak Chahar had given a warning to Tristan Stubbs, who was out of his crease and that incident raised a lot of eyebrows.

Another incident happened in the T20I Series of Australia vs England. This time Starc had warned Jos Buttler. Later Buttler said that he was in the crease. If the Mankading incident happens in the ongoing T20 World Cup then we can expect a lot of drama.

Also Read: AUS vs ENG: ‘I’m Not Deepti Sharma, But I Won’t Do It’- Mitchell Starc Engages In A Heated Conversation With Jos Buttler On Non-Striker Run-Out