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'As Indians, we should be last to encourage using it': Why Sunil Gavaskar is NOT happy with the term 'Mankad'

R Ashwin chose not to Mankad Aaron Finch in the IPL 2020 clash between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals in Dubai, which started a new rift of controversy.

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Sunil Gavaskar
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After Delhi Capitals (DC) spinner R Ashwin decided not to "Mankad" Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) opener Aaron Finch in the IPL 2020, former Team India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his thoughts on the usage of the terminology in the sport.

The incident happened in the third over of the Royal Challengers Bangalore chase of 197 and Ashwin was bowling to Devdutt Padikkal. As Ashwin was about to release the ball, he saw Aaron Finch had taken a few paces out of the crease. Ashwin aborted his run-up and was about to mankad Aaron Finch, the non-striker. However, he had a wry smile on his face and he decided to not ‘mankad’ him instead. 

Gavaskar, who is one of the official commentators for IPL 2020, after watching that incident said "Ashwin tried to Brown Finch" on the television. Later on, the former Indian batsman revealed that it was  Australian's Bill Brown who did the mistake of leaving the crease early on and that Vinoo Mankad just followed the rule book.

"Vinoo Mankad is a legend of Indian cricket, one of the great all-rounders who has won matches for India. And you use his name for, what is looked at by the cricketing world, as unsportsmanlike behaviour that’s not acceptable to me."

"I don’t want an Indian legend’s name to be disparaged. It baffles me why so many in the Indian media keep using that word as if they don’t have any respect for any Indian legends. As Indians, we should be the last to encourage such usage."

"That’s why yesterday on television, I said Ashwin tried to Brown him. Because Bill Brown was at fault in 1947 and not Vinoo Mankad," Sunil Gavaskar has said in an interview to The Indian Express.

Sunil also took a gib at Aaron Finch for doing the mistake of leaving his crease early, exactly like his compatriot back in 1947.

"The reason why this has become a moral issue is this so-called spirit of cricket, which is mythical. Just like the line the Australians say they never cross on the field. Even that is mythical; no one knows where that line is. It’s beyond me why getting the batsmen out at the bowler’s end one who is trying to take undue advantage by stepping out be considered unsportsmanlike," he said.

"They have fielding restrictions that stipulate a minimum number of players within the 30-yard circle and if someone stands just a foot outside, then that’s ruled a no-ball. If someone gets out that ball, it’s not out. I have no issues with it, as that’s the rule. Why is it okay if a batsman does it at the non-striker’s end? In today’s time, thanks to technology, a batsman is run out even if it’s just millimeters and we fuss so much with endless replays to rule it out."

"It’s because of the mythical spirit of cricket, applied arbitrarily. Aaron Finch was almost a yard or yard-and-a-half down before Ashwin had released the ball. Just imagine the advantage the non-striker has," he added.

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