Ricky Ponting wanted me to run Aaron Finch out: Ravi Ashwin

Ravi Ashwin could have found himself tangled into another controversy. However, he evaded any unruly circumstances after he refrained from running out Aaron Finch at the non-striker’s end. Back in 2019, the veteran sparked a controversy after he ran out Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) Jos Buttler. But this time around, he let Australia’s Finch off with a warning.

In the meantime, Ashwin revealed that DC head coach Ricky Ponting, indeed, wanted him to run Finch out. Previously, it was learned that Ponting himself didn’t want any of the Capitals’ bowlers to resort to the controversial dismissal.

“I tagged Ponting in the tweet. He said ‘he’s gone too far down, I myself wanted you to run him out’. He said he’s talking to the ICC committee about a run penalty. He’s trying hard to keep his promise,” Ashwin was quoted as saying on his YouTube channel.

Finch is a very nice guy, says Ravi Ashwin

Ashwin said that he shares a healthy camaraderie with Finch, having played together before at the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP). He said that their good relationship was a reason why he didn’t dismiss Finch.

“I stopped and thought for a second whether to do the run out or not. Even when I was thinking, he was just staring at me and didn’t come into the crease. I don’t know why he was staring.

“But he’s been a good friend since KXIP days. He’s a very nice guy, a lot of times we have sat together in the evenings and passed time. So, I let it slide as a final warning,” Ashwin stated.

Ashwin reckons that the batsmen should be penalised a heavy amount of runs for backing up too much. “I severely feel that the punishment should be severe. Dock 10 runs for backing up. No batsman would go out then,” he added.

As far as Ashwin is concerned, he sustained a shoulder injury in Delhi Capitals’ first match against KXIP. However, he made a comeback in the game against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

DC, led by Shreyas Iyer, are currently placed second on the points table with eight points from five matches. Their next game is against the Royals on Friday, October 9 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.