Ravichandran Ashwin’s Mankading of Jos Buttler results in social media firestorm

The clash between Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab at the Sawai Mansingh stadium on Monday witnessed a controversial moment when Ravichandran Ashwin mankaded Jos Buttler when the England batsman was batting on 69 and guiding Rajasthan Royals towards victory. However, in a flash, Ashwin removed the bails at the non-striker’s end and appealed for a run-out. The third umpire had a look and gave him out. This resulted in a fiery exchange between Buttler and Ashwin and when the batsman was given out, he was livid. In the post-match greetings, there was no eye contact between Buttler and Ashwin while Rajasthan Royals head coach Paddy Upton exchanged some terse words with the offspinner. 

The incident fueled plenty of criticism on social media, with the England players having a go at Ashwin. Many former players believed that Ashwin’s action went against the Spirit of the Game and that it was unwarranted. Some former Indian players and commentators supported Ashwin’s actions while even Australian players, notably Rajasthan Royals mentor Shane Warne had some harsh words for Ashwin’s action. 

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

Last point on the embarrassing & disgraceful act of @ashwinravi99 ! This win at all costs mentality has got to stop & the integrity of the game along with the spirit of the game must be of the most importance, as we need to set examples to the young boys & girls playing cricket !

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) March 25, 2019

Nothing in the laws though about warning. Just as there is nothing in the laws about a wicket keeper warning a batsman for being out of the crease and not stumping him https://t.co/OqYypMiRIQ

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 25, 2019

In April 2017, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) tweaked the rules and cleverly changed the title of the law related to Mankading, which stated that it was the batsman’s fault in case he got mankaded. The new law 41.16 notes: "If the non-striker is out of his/her ground from the moment the ball comes into play to the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the bowler is permitted to attempt to run him/her out." 

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This was not the first time that Buttler had been Mankaded, having been on the receiving end during the Edgbaston ODI between England and Sri Lanka in 2014 where Sri Lanka offspinner Sachithra Senanayake ran him out. Even for Ashwin, this was not the first time. In the 2012 tri-series in Australia, the offspinner had mankaded Sri Lanka’s Lahiru Thirimanne but the appeal was withdrawn by the-then captain Virender Sehwag.  

I can’t believe what I’m seeing!! @IPL Terrible example to set for young kids coming through. In time I think Ashwin will regret that.

— Eoin Morgan (@Eoin16) March 25, 2019

The Laws state it’s OUT ... Still doesn’t mean I like it at all ... just think it’s a bad look for the game ... I would prefer a 1 warning rule then after that it’s a free for all ... only my opinion so don’t abuse please ... or you can if you want .. I am not arsed #OnOn #IPL

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 25, 2019

And no. I don't think Ashwin must henceforth be referred to as the "Line of Punjab."#AshwinMankads

— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) March 26, 2019

In the post-match press conference, Ashwin reiterated that he had done nothing wrong. “It's there within the rules of the game. I don't understand where the spirit of the game comes, naturally if it's there in the rules it's there. I don't understand the point of sporting or sportive in that point because it's rules. What applies for one man does not apply for everyone else,” Ashwin said. Upton, though, was blunt in his criticism. “I think R Ashwin's actions tonight speak for him and represent him. When I looked in the eyes of his teammates, I'm not sure it represented his teammates. We'll leave it up to the IPL fans to decide if that's the kind of thing they want to see, and we'll leave it up to the cricket world to judge R Ashwin's actions tonight,” Upton said with anger.

Remember This Kid Who Was Mankaded By An English Cricketer Some Years Back... He Is Grown Up Now & Just Took His Revenge On An English Cricketer Tonight... #ashwin #AshwinMankads #josbuttler #RRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/9va7otRAqt

— Siddhartha singh (@sid_varanasi) March 26, 2019

For ones who see only one screenshot of Jos Butler within the crease, here is the next frame captured in less than a second. Clearly watches him on the move & #AshwinMankads. How different is this from a Stumping when WK waits for batsman to lift his feet & we appreciate that?🤔 pic.twitter.com/VfKLOksvFU

— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) March 26, 2019

I support every bowler who does it.Whether that bowler is English or from the Arctic,since every1 is justifying the non striker,might as well they stand at the half way mark of the pitch before the ball is released,can't ratify wrong just coz batsmen hav been doing it 4 too long https://t.co/uZC6DjuYMO

— Kartik Murali (@kartikmurali) March 26, 2019

HIGHLIGHTS

• R Ashwin's Mankading of Jos Buttler was the first-ever in history of IPL.
• Kings XI Punjab defeated Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur for the first time.
• Chris Gayle smashed 79 in the encounter while Jos Buttler hit 69.