Former Kings XI Punjab captain Ravichandran Ashwin hogged all the limelight during the 2019 edition of Indian Premier League (IPL), due to his infamous ‘Mankad’ dismissal of Jos Buttler.
The entire cricketing fraternity seemed divided about the legality as well as sportsmanship regarding the dismissal.
This was not the first time Ashwin attempted the cheeky dismissal. In the 2012 Commonwealth Tri-series match between India and Sri Lanka at Brisbane, Ashwin dislodged the bails at the non-striker’s end, with Lahiru Thirimanne outside the popping crease.
However, India’s skipper Virender Sehwag decided to take back the appeal later after being involved in a heated discussion with the umpire.
Recently, New Zealand leg-spinner Ish Sodhi asked his Rajasthan Royals teammate, Jos Buttler, by taking a subtle dig at the latter. “Which Rajasthan Royals batsman was dismissed by a Mankad?” asked Sodhi in a recent podcast organized by the Royals.
“Can I just say (laughs). I don’t know. Is that even a way of deciding dismissal these days?” Buttler replied. “Shouldn’t be mate. I am with you Jos, it shouldn’t be, mate,” responded Sodhi.
“I think that might have been me,” conceded Buttler hilariously while Sodhi remarked, “unfortunate”.
“Everybody who know me, it is very clear (to them) that I don’t do anything that is illegal. Even my team has stood behind me since then. A lot many players have come to me and said whatever I did was absolutely right,” Ashwin told India Today earlier.
In the recently concluded U19 World Cup in South Africa, Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain attempted to Mankad one of the batsmen from Afghanistan. Thereby, sparking the debate all over again.
Amidst lockdown and quarantine period observed worldwide, Ashwin took to Twitter with a tongue in cheek comment regarding the ‘Mankad’ incident, a few days back.
“Hahaha, somebody sent me this and told me it’s exactly been 1 year since this run out happened. As the nation goes into a lockdown, this is a good reminder to my citizens. Don’t wander out. Stay inside. Stay safe!” Ashwin said earlier.
