Ricky Ponting Wanted Me To Run Out Aaron Finch, Reveals Ravichandran Ashwin

Delhi Capitals head coach Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed head coach Ricky Ponting wanted him to ‘Mankad’ Aaron Finch during the clash against Royal Challengers Bangalore earlier this week.

Ravichandran Ashwin raised a number of eyebrows by decided against Mankading the RCB opener despite the latter being well out of his crease at the non-striker’s end. Running out a batsman at the non-striker’s end when he is out of the crease is well within the rules of the game.

However, the mode of dismissal is widely considered against the spirit of the game. Ravichandran Ashwin, nonetheless, left Finch with just a warning. Following the incident, there were murmurs that Ponting might be the reason behind the spinner’s decision.

Before the start of the ongoing IPL, Ponting had made it clear that he didn’t want any Delhi Capitals player to Mankad an opposition player. Ravichandran Ashwin, however, has revealed that Ponting wanted him to go ahead and dismiss Finch. The off-spinner also revealed Ponting’s promise to him.

“I tagged Ponting in the tweet. He said ‘he’s gone too far down, I myself wanted you to run him out’. He said he’s talking to the ICC committee about a run penalty. He’s trying hard to keep his promise,” Ravichandran Ashwin was quoted as saying on his YouTube channel.

‘A good friend’:

Ravichandran Ashwin further said that he shares a good friendship with Finch. Both the players shared the dressing room while playing together for Kings XI Punjab. The spinner revealed that the friendship played a part in his decision of not dismissing the Australian.

“I stopped and thought for a second whether to do the run out or not. Even when I was thinking, he was just staring at me and didn’t come into the crease. I don’t know why he was staring.

“But he’s been a good friend since KXIP days. He’s a very nice guy, a lot of times we have sat together in the evenings and passed time. So, I let it slide as a final warning,” said the India ace.

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