Spin Maestro Muttiah Muralitharan Reacts to Deepti Sharma's Mankading Of Charlie Dean

India’s Deepti Sharma recently made the headlines after being the first woman cricketer to run out an England batsman without delivering the ball. At Lord’s on Saturday, she knocked off the stumps at the non-striker’s end when England’s Charlie Dean was out of the crease with the instance leading to the culmination of the Woman ODI abruptly.

However, sharing his opinions on the incident, Sri Lankan spin maestro Muttiah Muralitharan made some bold remarks.

Muttiah Muralitharan opines Deepti Sharma should have given a warning first

Speaking exclusively over the telephone from Cuttack, where he is playing the Legends League in India,legendary off-spinner Murali says, “what presence of mind ? No cricketer would play international matches if he or she has no presence of mind. I would have appreciated Deepti (Sharma) if she had given the warning to the non-striker first. It would have been in the right spirit of the game then”. 

“Yes, lawfully, she (Deepti Sharma) was right in running out the non-striker but that’s in the law and not in the spirit of the game.

“The white ball game is a pressure game and in a tight situation the non-striker may have left the crease early and if this act by the non-striker is repeated, the run out is justified. Not otherwise in my opinion”.

Indian cricketers extend support to Deepti Sharma

Indian spinner R. Ashwin, who had also run out England batter Jos Buttler in a similar fashion in the IPL praised Deepti Sharma’s “presence of mind” and stated that the bowler should be credited with the wicket and be given the bravery award.

India’s former wicket-keeper Syed Kirmani also echoed the same views. “Where is the Bravery & presence of mind “ and a  “BRAVERY AWARD” Hah !!! Sorry Ashwin, you have been a party to such Bravery in the past. Come on guys, bring back the gentleman spirit into the game”.

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