IPL 2019: When Ravichandran Ashwin Had His Say on Mankading a Few Years Back

Team India skipper Ravichandran Ashwin came into the limelight yesterday when he ran out Jos Buttler at the non-striker’s end as the batsman was backing up. This mode of dismissal known as “Mankading” is a legal way of getting batsmen out but it is indeed against the spirit of the game. Following his actions, Ravichandran Ashwin received criticism from every quarter.

Former Australian leg spinner Shane Warne called the act a disgraceful one. A few years ago Ashwin had posted a series of tweets where he revealed what Mankading actually means to him. He further revealed that this is a tactic which he always plans because if a batsman can leave his crease he can whip the bails off.

However the main question yesterday was that Ashwin was already in his delivery stride and he stopped to make Buttler leave the crease. A batsman at the non-striker’s end won’t observe the bowler as whether he has delivered the ball or not. In this instance, Buttler was in his crease when Ashwin had actually stopped. The spinner then waited for Buttler to get out of the crease and whipped of the bails.

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It must be noted that this isn’t the first instance when Ravichandran Ashwin had attempted to run out a batsman like this. Back in 2012 during the Commonwealth Bank series involving India, Australia and Sri Lanka, Ashwin had run out Lahhiru Thirimanne in a similar fashion. However, the then skipper Virender Sehwag after consulting senior pro-Sachin Tendulkar decided to bail out from the appeal.

Seven years down the line, Ashwin again attempted a similar kind of dismissal and this time he being the captain appealed and the 3^rd umpire ruled it in favour of the bowling team. Jos Buttler was fuming and even didn’t shake hands directly with Ashwin after the conclusion of the match.

If rules are taken into consideration there is no doubt about the fact that what Ashwin did was right. However, it is indeed against the spirit of the game and critics lashed out at him for breaching the spirit of the game.

Now let us have a look at some of the tweets of Ashwin when he had a conversation with some of the Twitter users regarding Mankading and what are his views on the same.

@SriniMama16 it was indeed cruel,let's just say the rules are made just for the hec https://t.co/9I4bBUe1jE balls can kill,shall we ban it?

— Ashwin ?? (@ashwinravi99) February 2, 2016

@SriniMama16 spirit of humanity.Slog overs should empower the bowlers to push the front line.

— Ashwin ?? (@ashwinravi99) February 2, 2016

@ashwinravi99 @SriniMama16 Ash he neither supported Mankad nor opposed it. Read his other tweets. He has talked about both pros and cons. ?

— Aishu ? (@imaishu_) February 2, 2016

@ImAishu_ @SriniMama16 I m not addressing anyone.Popular opinions don't always mean they are right

— Ashwin ?? (@ashwinravi99) February 2, 2016

@ashwinravi99 @ImAishu_ @SriniMama16 question – have you ever considered using mankad as a strategy? Is it ever on ur mind while running in?

— Karthik Lakshmanan (@lk_karthik) February 2, 2016

@lk_karthik @ImAishu_ @SriniMama16 every single day,I can't push the front line,why should a batsmen gain yards.

— Ashwin ?? (@ashwinravi99) February 2, 2016

@Crownish @lk_karthik @ImAishu_ @SriniMama16 batsmen can warn the bowler about hitting him for a 6??

— Ashwin ?? (@ashwinravi99) February 2, 2016

@Crownish @lk_karthik @ImAishu_ @SriniMama16 criticism?..I am saying it needs to be applauded.Popular opinions aren't always right

— Ashwin ?? (@ashwinravi99) February 2, 2016