Ravichandran Ashwin’s ‘Mankading’ dismissal of batsman Joe Buttler on Monday became the highlight of the Indian Premier League (IPL) match between KXIP and Rajasthan Royals and sparked a big debate on social media.
KXIP bowler Ashwin ran out Buttler, who was backing up a little too far at the non-strikers' end, in the 13th over — an action popularly known as 'Mankading'. Replays showed that Ashwin stopped and waited during his delivery stride for Buttler to move out of his crease before removing the bails. The decision was referred to the third umpire and Buttler was declared out. Buttler was visibly angry as he walked back to the pavilion and later coldly shook Ashwin’s hand during the customary handshake at the end of the match.
#Ashwin is the new Cricket 'Villain'
— சங்கரி (@shankari_offici) March 26, 2019
on social Media. @ashwinravi99 #AshwinMankads #Ashwin #Mankad #RRvKXIP #Buttler #IPL2019 pic.twitter.com/XnyjuXDBTO
Rajasthan Royals coach Paddy Upton also voiced his displeasure at the move after the match. Upton, who was the mental conditioning coach of the World Cup-winning Indian side of 2011 of which Ashwin was also a part, said, “I will leave it up to the IPL fans to decide whether that's the kind of thing they want to see and we will leave it up to the cricket world to judge R Ashwin's actions tonight.”
‘Mankading’ has been named after Indian all-rounder Vinoo Mankad, who was the first player to effect such a dismissal when he ran out Australian batsman Bill Brown during a test match at the SCG in 1947. While Ashwin's decision to run out Buttler is legal according to ICC's rule 41.16, which states that a warning to the batsman is not necessary, the move sparked a fierce debate on social media.
Many former and current cricketers, as well as analysts, stated that the move was not in the spirit of the game.
Ashwin, that’s shocking behaviour! Very disappointed to see that.
— Jason Roy (@JasonRoy20) March 25, 2019
He ain’t winning any spirit of cricket awards is old ashwin
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) March 25, 2019
So disappointed in @ashwinravi99 as a Captain & as a person. All captains sign the #IPL wall & agree to play in the spirit of the game. RA had no intention of delivering the ball - so it should have been called a dead ball. Over to u BCCI - this a not a good look for the #IPL
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) March 25, 2019
However, many argued that he was perfectly within the ICC rules to do so.
How’s playing within the laws of the game ‘unfair’?? #RRvKXIP #IPL #Ashwin
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 25, 2019
Joss Butler is a professional cricketer who should be aware that the rules have changed and the bowler does not need to warn anyone. If the batsman can get the advantage of a few extra seconds drifting out early for a run, the bowler has every right to run him out. #Mankading
— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) March 26, 2019
Some stated that perhaps Ashwin should have given a warning to the batsman that he was out of the crease before the ball left the bowler’s hand.
As a coach or a senior cricketer I would advise any youngster/non-striker to face the bowler at the time of release and only leave the crease after the ball has been delivered, regardless of format or situation #Basics #Cricket #IPL #IPL2019 #BadriBytes #Mankading
— subramani badrinath (@s_badrinath) March 26, 2019
It’s within the laws of the game but Jos Butler should have been warned by Ashwin before that. Very Surprised ! Remember Ashwin doing the same in an international game where Sehwag withdrew the appeal.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) March 25, 2019
Feel sad for #JosButtler. Hope this rule changes to give a compulsory warning first, before a bowler can go for #mankading #VivoIPL #RRvKXIP #SpiritOfTheGame!
— Pragyan Prayas Ojha (@pragyanojha) March 25, 2019
This is not the first time though that Joe Buttler has been run out in this fashion, as pointed out by a Twitter user who stated that Buttler was similarly “Mankaded” by Sri Lankan bowler Sachithra Senanayake in a one-day international in 2014. However, on that occasion, the bowler had given Buttler a warning before effecting the dismissal.
Warning or no warning,#Buttler has a habit of getting out of the crease and when you have been given out once, why to repeat the same thing again. #IPL2019 #RRvKXIP #Ashwin #Mankad pic.twitter.com/3NgDGrclQF
— Ankit Sanghvi (@iAnk1t) March 26, 2019
There were, of course, several memes that followed. People also compared Joe Buttler’s dismissal to the one shown in the 2001 Bollywood movie Lagaan.
Is Ashwin taken revenge against English batsman...#Ashwinmankads #Ashwin #RRvKXIP #IPL2019 pic.twitter.com/zycDWUzdEY
— Rohitian #MI (@ImRohitian_) March 26, 2019
Reaction of Buttler Right Now #Ashwin #RRvKXIP #IPL2019 pic.twitter.com/GvRl6O2tCI
— Epic Cricket Comments (@CricketEpic) March 25, 2019