'Jos Buttler felt deflated' - Ravi Ashwin opens up on mankading row in IPL 2019

Running the non-striker out before delivering the ball has always been, and continues to be, a subject of debate in the cricket world. This debate caught even more fire when Ravi Ashwin dismissed Jos Buttler through his controversial mode of dismissal, which is commonly referred to as ‘Mankading’, in IPL 2019. Back then, Ashwin was the captain of Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) while Jos Buttler was playing for Rajasthan Royals.

Buttler was evidently disappointed with Ashwin’s act, while the off-spinner has been constantly batting for this mode of dismissal. Shedding light on the episode, Ashwin admitted that the England international was pretty upset about what had happened. While the 35-year-old doesn’t regret dismissing the dasher, he understands the point of view of the English star.

I can totally understand Jos Buttler’s emotions: Ravichandran Ashwin

“When the incident happened, I think it was Jos who felt deflated about it and quite upset. Rightly so, because it’s not accepted practice. It’s not something that happens day in and day out. I can totally understand that” Ashwin was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

Meanwhile, the 35-year-old once again didn’t miss out on endorsing running the non-striker out if the latter backs up too far. “Whether it’s going to be accepted or not accepted widely by different quadrants of the cricketing community is something that we’ll have to wait and watch. But the pace at which the game is going, the professionals are evolving and how the players are perceiving the game, I just hope and wish that it is looked upon as a legitimate form of dismissal,” said Ashwin.

“But whether somebody chooses to do it, or not to do it, is entirely up to them and it’s not a question of character assassination,” he added. Meanwhile, foes have turned friends now as both Ashwin and Buttler are now a part of the Rajasthan Royals camp.

Meanwhile, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodian of cricket rules, recently made a move to break the stigma around this mode of dismissal. Apparently, the dismissal has been moved from Law 41 (Unfair Play) to Law 38 (Run out).