Kevin Pietersen, Ravichandran Ashwin
Ashwin decided against mankading Finch [Photo-Twitter]

Kevin Pietersen has visibly had a change of heart as far as his stance on ‘Mankading’ is concerned following the recent incident between RCB’s opener Aaron Finch and ace Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

During the recent encounter between Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore, Ravichandran Ashwin decided against running out the non-striker Aaron Finch after the latter has moved almost two meters out of his crease even before the ball was bowled.

Ashwin decided to let off Finch with a warning and while the so-called custodians of ‘Spirit of Cricket’ lauded the off-spinner for his gesture, a majority of people were left disappointed with the fact that Ashwin did not run out Finch.

Kevin Pietersen has now come out in support of Ravichandran Ashwin and he now feels that the batsman should adhere to the laws and shouldn’t try to take unfair advantage by backing up too far. That was, however, not the case with KP during his playing days or even 12 months ago when Ashwin dismissed Jos Buttler in a similar manner.

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‘Do not steal runs!’- Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen, Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin (L) after mankading Jos Buttler (Credits: Twitter)

Speaking on talkSPORT’s podcast Following On, Kevin Pietersen said that he saw the use of ‘Mankading’ in one of his son’s game and he immediately took that up with the coaches as he was shocked seeing 10-year-olds picking up such a practice.

“Apparently (Mankading) is in the coaching manuals now and is to be allowed,” said Pietersen.

“(But) seeing how far down the wicket Aaron Finch was, almost stealing two metres before Ashwin bowled, I think what he did was perfect. Finch, get back in your crease. Do not steal runs!” Kevin Pietersen added.

“Watching Ashwin do it twelve months ago I would have said, ‘come on mate, no no no’” but “having thought it over the past 12 months, (I think) it was absolutely perfect what he did,” he signed off.

Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin has sent out a warning to all the batsmen in the IPL in a tweet posted by him after the match where he also proceeded to tag his DC coach Ricky Ponting.

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