IPL 2019: Jofra Archer takes a sly dig at Ravi Ashwin after Mankad controversy

Rajasthan Royals’ all-rounder Jofra Archer has lashed out at Kings XI Punjab’s Ravi Ashwin after the Mankad controversy that marred the clash between the two teams in Jaipur on Monday. The Royals were looking primed to start their campaign on a winning note with Jos Buttler going great guns in the middle. Chasing 185 on a good batting surface, the home side was well on course with the scoreboard reading 108 for 1.

This is when the controversy erupted. Bowling the penultimate delivery of the thirteenth over and his final over, Ashwin stopped in his delivery stride to check that Buttler remains rooted at the non-striker’s crease. However, Buttler, who was unaware of the things going behind his back, soon walked out of the crease, giving Ashwin the chance to Mankad him. And the Kings XI star did not wait as he turned back and took off the fails.

The decision was then referred to the third umpire who adjudged Buttler out. A furious Buttler then stormed out of the field while venting his anger. Before his departure, Buttler had looked in imperious form, slamming 10 fours and 2 sixes during his 69-run knock. It was his third consecutive fifty against the Kings XI Punjab. His dismissal, however, completely turned the game on its head as the Royals squandered the strong position. From 108 for 1 and then 148 for 2, they eventually finished on 170 for 9 to lose their tournament opener by 14 runs.

Following the game Archer joined a host of present and former cricketers who were taking a shot at Ravi Ashwin. The all-rounder, who conceded just 17 runs off his 4 overs, took a sly dig at Ashwin, writing: “You show no confidence in yourself or your bowlers to get the job done so you resort to that” Archer, however, later deleted the tweet.

Here’s the screenshot of the tweet

‘It was pretty instinctive’

Ravi Ashwin, meanwhile, has said that he has no regrets over the decision as he made it clear that the batsman needs to be wary about leaving the crease early.

“No real argument on that and it was pretty instinctive. I didn’t even load and he just left the crease. We ended on the right side of the coin, but I definitely think that those are game-changing moments and batsmen need to be wary of it,” Ashwin said after the game.

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