Ashwin Mankads Buttler: Warne slams KXIP captain for 'low act', calls out 'biased' Harsha Bhogle
War of words on Twitter.
Ravichandran Ashwin says his 'Mankad' dismissal of Jos Buttler in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday was not against the spirit of the game despite the run out sparking a chorus of disapproval from fellow players and pundits.
The most vocal of them was Aussie legend and current Rajasthan Royals brand ambassador Shane Warne. He slammed the KXIP "So disappointed in (Ashwin) as a captain and as a person," Warne wrote on Twitter. "(Ashwin) had no intention of delivering the ball ... this a not a good look for the IPL ... Why do such a disgraceful and low act like that tonight?"
Warne also minced no words when Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle tried to back Ashwin. Warne said that Harsha is being biased and trying to stick up for 'his own'. Warne said that he hopes that BCCI doesn't condone such behaviour.
However, this is not the first time Jos Buttler has been Mankaded.
There were intense reactions on Twitter with fans divided over whether Ashwin has done the right thing or not. Some trolls, unfortunately, attacked even Ashwin's family on social media.
IPL Chairman Rajiv Shukla too condemned Ashwin's behaviour. Ashwin on his part though was unflappable and blamed the batsman for not being aware to such possibility. Rajasthan Royals batsman Buttler was run out on 69 while backing up at the non-striker's end, with Kings XI Punjab skipper Ashwin choosing to whip off the bails as the runner stepped out of the crease instead of completing his delivery to the batsman on strike.
The dismissal, named after India bowler Vinoo Mankad who ran out Australia's Bill Brown in similar fashion in 1947, is permitted under cricket's laws but viewed by some as going against the spirit of the game.Buttler departed after an angry exchange with Ashwin and his exit condemned the Royals to a 14-run defeat in their IPL opener in Jaipur.
"On my part, it was very instinctive," Indian off-spinner Ashwin told a post-match news conference. "It wasn't planned or anything like that. It's there within the rules of the game. "I don't understand where the spirit of the game comes (in). Naturally, if it's there in the rules it's there."
That view was not shared by Royals coach Paddy Upton. "I think we'll leave it up to the IPL fans to decide if that's the kind of things they want to see, and we'll leave it up to the cricket world to judge R Ashwin's actions tonight," Upton said. "But for us, we're certainly here to play cricket and entertain the fans and be good role models for people who love the game."
With Reuters inputs
Harsha Bhogle tried to justify R Ashwin's action by saying, "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"
Regarding spirit of cricket argument, he said, "I am hearing a lot of talk about spirit of the game. This law specifically came in because, taking recourse to this very "spirit of the game" batsmen were running 6 inches less to complete a run."
He also played down the argument of giving warning saying, "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"
According to Harsha onus is on the umpire, and he said, "My final point on this. Ashwin ran Buttler out. It went to the 3rd umpire who is on the ICC Elite panel. He looked at the replays & said the non-striker was out. He is the custodian of the laws & playing conditions. So irrespective of what Ashwin did, it was the umpire's decision."
Shane Warne tweeted,"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".
He further said, "As Captain of your side - you set the standard of the way the team wants to play & what the team stands for! Why do such a disgraceful & low act like that tonight? You must live with yourself & FYI - it's too late to say sorry Mr Ashwin. You will be remembered for that low act"
For Harsha, Warne was pointed in his attack.