IPL 2021: Twitterati bash PBKS’ Shahrukh Khan for backing up too much at the non-striker’s end against SRH

Shahrukh Khan was the top run-scorer for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. He scored 22 runs off 17 balls with two sixes before Khaleel Ahmed accounted for his wicket. He played at a strike rate of 129.41, the highest among his teammates in the game at the Chepauk.

The Kings went on to lose the game by nine wickets after being bundled out for 120 in 19.4 overs. In the meantime, Khan was a recipient of some criticism from the netizens. In one of the pictures, Khan was seen, backing up too much at the non-striker’s end.

One of the fans was disappointed after Sharukh wasn’t ‘Mankaded’ after his antics. Recently, veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle stated that the non-striker shouldn’t get any kind of undue advantage and the rule should be made a mandatory one.

Here’s how Twitterati lashed out at Shahrukh Khan:

Hope when PBKS are 9 down and Shahrukh still remains, they just mankad him for the final wicket

— absy (@absycric) April 21, 2021

Dwayne Bravo few days back, Shahrukh Khan today. Mankading should really be consider by fast bowlers if the non striker is so far ahead. pic.twitter.com/edenWcqcQ9

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 21, 2021

"non-striker is so far ahead". So it should also be not a no ball if bowler is not so far ahead. Why should every rule give advantage to the batsman?

— Himansh (@HimanshSingla_) April 21, 2021

Man Shahrukh khan backing up so much

— ꧁ᴿᎥsђaҍђpan† Stan ❤️ (@spideystriking) April 21, 2021

Very disappointed with Sunrisers for not mankading Shahrukh Khan. He was consistently 2+ feet outside the crease by the time the bowler delivered the ball.

In a game of such small margins, that unfair advantage is unacceptable.

It's 2021. Normalize Mankading.#PBKSvSRH

— Aditya (@forwardshortleg) April 21, 2021

Bowler when bowls a no ball concedes a run plus batsman gets a extra ball. When batsman does it, it becomes against spirit of Cricket. Should be on fair basis .

— RIYAN~the peaches seller in California (@RiyanSingh19) April 21, 2021

Earlier, Shahrukh was brought by PBKS at a price of INR 5.25 crores after he registered himself at a base price of INR 20 lakhs. The youngster wanted to rub shoulders with Chris Gayle, who’s with the Punjab-based team since 2018, and he’s gotten his wish fulfilled.

“I know KL Rahul and have met him a couple of times but I am very excited to meet Chris Gayle. He hits the ball so hard. He is a dangerous batman. I am really happy that I will be sharing the dressing room with seniors like KL and Gayle. I am really thankful to Punjab for showing faith in me,” Khan was quoted as saying earlier.

He also expressed his desire to work with coach Anil Kumble. “I am looking forward to meeting Anil (Kumble) sir and want to ask him a lot of things. It is going to be a huge learning experience for me. I will look to justify my place in the team,” he added.

Sanjay Manjrekar, the former Indian cricketer, also called Khan as one of the players to watch out for in the tournament. He took to Twitter and wrote, “Shahrukh Khan and Lalit Yadav…players to watch this IPL. Seem to have what it takes to be long term IPL players. #MIvDC.“