Last night’s IPL match between Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals gave cricket fans some serious food for thought. It all started when Punjab captain Ravichandran Ashwin executed a controversial run out of batsman Jos Buttler in the 13th over.
Jos Buttler had scored 69 runs off 43 balls when he was declared out by the third umpire. The unorthodox part is that he was at the non-striker’s end. Take a look.
#AskStar being captain ashwin should not do such dismissal .This is against the cricket sprite 👎👎 pic.twitter.com/xrYknHliGO
— Nitin Tripathi (@NitinTr81906338) March 25, 2019
Infamously referred to as ‘Mankading’, this form of dismissal is very rare in the game. This name came about when Vinoo Mankad (former Indian all-rounder) knocked off the bails of batsman Bill Brown during a test match in Sydney.
Technically, a run-out of the non-striker is permitted under law 41.16. Harsha Bhogle summarised it perfectly in his tweet.
Lots of drama on the Buttler run-out. He was livid but the law and the advisory on it is clear. The bowler is within his right to run a player out at the non-striker's end if he is out of his crease
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 25, 2019
However, there are many who argue that it is against the game’s unspoken rules. The unhappiness of fans can be gauged by the response to this poll.
That Buttler Mankad… Did Ashwin do the right thing? 🤔#IPL2019
— ICC (@ICC) March 25, 2019
Here’s what they had to say about the controversial ‘Mankad’ dismissal.
#AskStar being captain ashwin should not do such dismissal .This is against the cricket sprite 👎👎 pic.twitter.com/xrYknHliGO
— Nitin Tripathi (@NitinTr81906338) March 25, 2019
Oh hell! Ashwin's run Butler out for backing up too far. Within the laws, but outside the spirt of the game. Unless the batsman had been cautioned earlier. We'll know about that later. For now, Punjab get coveted breakthru and the IPL its first major controversy this season
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 25, 2019
Bet Ashwin is that bloke who would take your last chicken nugget
— Jordan Clark (@Clarksy16) March 25, 2019
#Ashwin
Shame on a great bowler to take such wicket unfairly. Boo!— creativewrites (@Suresh16654405) 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
The skipper still stands by his split-second decision on the field.
"My actions were within cricket's rules, can't be called unsporting."
– @ashwinravi99 responds to accusations of him unfairly running out @josbuttler. #RRvKXIP #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/ygOmyGTzCL— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 25, 2019
Kings XI Punjab eventually won the match by 14 runs but the controversy is what overshadowed the entire post-match discourse. Looks like ‘Mankading’ has divided the internet and started a fierce debate on fair play.