IPL 2020: Here's why Sunil Gavaskar used the term 'Brown' instead of 'Mankad' during Ashwin-Finch incident

Ravichandran Ashwin, bringing back memories of his ‘Mankading’ incident from the previous edition, tried to pull off another one in the on-going IPL 2020. During the encounter between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Ashwin got the chance to ‘Mankad’ Australia’s Aaron Finch.

However, Ashwin refrained from doing so and only issued a warning to the Australian. Twitter, in no time, was flooded with hilarious pictures about the incident. The debate over ‘Mankad’ has been a hot topic in the cricket fraternity. While some believe there’s nothing wrong in running the non-striker out, others feel that it’s against the sportsmanship of the gentleman’s game.

During the Ashwin-Finch incident, legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar was behind the mic. While being on-air during the match, Gavaskar said “Ashwin tried to ‘Brown’ him” instead of ‘Mankad’, leaving fans confused over his terminology.

Gavaskar has now explained the reason. In an interview with the Indian Express, the cricketing icon explained that since the batter is at fault and not the bowler, the dismissal should be named on the first batsman to have been given out in this manner which was Bill Brown.

“Vinoo Mankad is a legend of Indian cricket, one of the great all-rounders who has won matches for India. And you use his name for, what is looked at by the cricketing world, as unsportsmanlike behaviour – that’s not acceptable to me. I don’t want an Indian legend’s name to be disparaged.

I will support my bowler 100 per cent: Sunil Gavaskar

It baffles me why so many in the Indian media keep using that word as if they don’t have any respect for any Indian legends. As Indians, we should be the last to encourage such usage. That’s why yesterday on television, I said Ashwin tried to Brown him. Because Bill Brown was at fault in 1947 and not Vinoo Mankad,” he said.

When asked whether a warning could be given to the non-striker for moving out early from the crease, Gavaskar argued that no batsman tells the bowler before smashing a six.

“Does the batsmen warn the bowler that he is going to hit him for a six? Or does a bowler warn that he is going to bowl a bouncer or a googly? Why should the batsman be warned? As a captain, I would leave it to the bowler. It’s his call. I will support my bowler 100 per cent,” he asserted.

After the incident, Ashwin himself took it to Twitter to mention that it was his ‘first and final warning’ of IPL 2020 to the batsmen. If a non-striker tries to be cheeky in taking a run again, the world might witness Ashwin pulling off ‘Mankad’ yet again.