Rahul Dravid weighs in on Ravi Ashwin's 'Mankad' controversy

Legendary batsman Rahul Dravid has joined the debate over whether Ravi Ashwin was right to affect the Mankad to dismiss Jos Buttler on Monday. The fourth game of this year’s IPL between Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab was marred by the incident that took place in the 13th over of the innings.  Bowling the fifth delivery of the over, Ashwin stopped in his delivery stride to check that Buttler remains rooted at the non-striker’s crease.

However, the Royals opener left the crease and Ashwin did not wait in turning back and dislodging the bails in a blink of an eye. A baffled Buttler was then seen having a heated argument with Ashwin while the latter appealed for a run-out. The decision was then referred to the third umpire who adjudged Buttler out. A furious Buttler walked out of the ground in anger as his dismissal turned the course of the game.

The Kings XI Punjab were comfortably placed at 108 for 1 while chasing 185 when Buttler was run out. The Royals’ innings soon fell apart as they lost wickets in a heap in the end to finish on 170 f0r 9 and lose the game by 14 runs. But the result of the game has taken the back seat as Ashwin has divided the cricketing world into two halves with his act which is legal but widely considered to be against the Spirit of the Game.

Dravid has now given his views on the matter. The former India cricketer said that Ashwin had the right to take the bails off. However, he stated that from a personal point of view, a warning could’ve been given first. “It’s within the laws of the game and that’s pretty clear. So I don’t have a problem with someone deciding to do it. Ashwin was well within his rights to do what he did.

However, personally, I would prefer it if somebody warns someone first. That would be my personal choice, but I respect someone’s view to think differently. I might not agree with it necessarily, but I would just have to agree to disagree whether someone should run someone out without warning him,” said the former Royals captain while speaking to The Times of India (TOI).

Reactions overblown on Ravi Ashwin:

Ravi Ashwin has been painted as a villain in the wake of the incident. Several former cricketers have slammed him with Shane Warne even calling the act ‘disgraceful’. Dravid, however, feels that some of the reactions have been overblown.

“I think some of the reactions were overblown. Questioning Ashwin’s character because he did that is totally wrong. He has every right to his view. You might not agree with it, but it was well within his rights to do it and that does not make him a bad person.

Like I said, I would rather he had warned first, but if he chose not to do it, then that’s his interpretation and you can’t have issue with that. It is not about being a gentleman or a non-gentleman. This is not a judgement on his character, but his reading of the law. He has not cheated anybody, nor is he a bad person because he did that,” Dravid opined.

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