Unfair To Judge Bowlers For 'Mankad'- Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik, Indian wicketkeeper-batsman and Kolkata Knight Riders skippers, believes that a bowler is well within his right to ‘Mankad’ a non-striker without being subjected to the criticism involving the so called ‘Spirit of Cricket’.

The debate around ‘Mankad’ has once again reared its head after former Australian captain and current head coach of Delhi Capitals suggested that he will be having a ‘hard discussion’ with ace Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, adding that he wouldn’t allow him to use it in the upcoming edition of the IPL.

‘Mankad’- an unofficial term for a dismissal when a bowler run outs a non-striker in case he has moved out of the crease before the ball has been delivered- became a hot point of debate in the last season when Ashwin dismissed Jos Buttler. And, while Law 41.6 clearly allows a bowler to run-out the non-striker leaving his crease early, world cricket has been divided into two different camps, with one camp alleging that the dismissal is not within the ‘Spirit of the Game’

‘I think every time a batsman crosses (the line before ball is delivered), the bowler should be allowed to create a run out. I don’t think there is any spirit of cricket question that is there in that. Because I feel if a batsman nicks a ball and he doesn’t walk, where is the spirit then?” Dinesh Karthik was quoted as saying by Cricketnext.

“I think you need to be fair. You should take it out of the bowler’s hand and the umpire’s hand. It is either out or a not out, that’s all. There is no question of asking the captain, asking the referee and those kind of things. I think a batsman at the point of delivery should definitely stay within the crease, as simple as that. If the batsman goes out, then the bowler can dislodge the bails and there should be no question about that,” he added.

Because that means every time the batsman does that, and people feel the bowler, by creating a run out is cheating, then every time a batsman taking 2 metres is cheating again. So why nobody complains about the batsman backing up? That’s always been my view.” Karthik said

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‘As a captain, I wouldn’t allow my bowler’- Dinesh Karthik on ‘Mankad’

Dinesh Karthik also suggested that the rules need to be ‘watertight and black or white’ with no scope for grey areas’ like subjective use of the Spirit of Cricket.

”And I also feel rules need to be watertight and there is no question of… it’s either black or white, it’s as simple as that. There should be no grey areas for people to use a loophole and find out. Spirit of cricket I feel is a massive grey area that people tend to use whenever they’re not comfortable with something that they’re doing,” Dinesh Karthik said.

“Then they get a little too personal, they get into the player’s personality, start judging people on what they’ve done. I think that’s a bit unfair. I think the rules need to be very clear. It should be out or not out. If it’s out or not out, the bowler and the fielding team have the ability to do it every time. As simple as that. If the rule applies to the bowling team, I’m sure when they start to bat the opponent can also do it. It needs to be very simple and clear.” Dinesh Karthik added.

Interestingly, Dinesh Karthik also said that he wouldn’t allow his bowler to use the mode of dismissal but also added that he wouldn’t judge any bowler or captain if they support ‘Mankad’.

“I keep saying this. As a captain, I wouldn’t allow my bowler. If my bowler does it, I won’t accept it as a dismissal. Because I feel that it’s okay, it’s not necessary, our bowlers have the skill levels to do a proper dismissal. But once the rule is in place that it is a run-out, then it takes the question out of me deciding or not,” he reckoned.

It is a run-out, that’s all. The bowler has done it, that’s all, it is fair play. As a captain, I wouldn’t allow or accept that as a dismissal if it is left to my hands because I feel my bowlers have the skill to take a wicket. As simple as that, I would leave it at that. But I wouldn’t judge another captain if he accepts that as a run-out. It’s fine. That is a form of dismissal and please go ahead with it. What should be made clear is the fact that the batsmen should stay in his crease at the point of delivery, that’s it.” Karthik added.

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