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The 12th season of the Indian Premiere League (IPL) has seen just four matches, and all of them have been nail biters even though the opener between CSK and RCB was a low-scoring one.
On Monday, chasing a target of 185, Rajasthan Royals were cruising towards victory against the Kings XI Punjab, courtesy opener Jos Buttler's blistering knock of 69 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. However, this wasn't the highlight of the game. The Kings XI were able to snatch victory from the jaws of Royals after its skipper Ravichandran Ashwin ‘Mankaded’ Buttler, what was later termed 'controversial and not in spirit of the game' by many.
The seasoned off-spinner ran out the Rajasthan Royals opener, who was at the non-striker’s end, on his delivery stride. The appeal was referred to the 3rd umpire, who signaled it OUT. This was the second time that Buttler has been dismissed in a similar fashion, as Sri Lanka's Sachithra Senanayake had run him out during an ODI match in 2014.
It's of course within the laws of the game, but has surely left the cricket world divided on the ‘spirit of the game’.
Here's a look at some of the responses:
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
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
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 to late to say sorry Mr Ashwin. You will be remembered for that low act https://t.co/jGif2TOnjI
— 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
The Mankad is so so wrong. Terrible sportsmanship IMO #IPL #RRvKXIP
— Andy Balbirnie (@balbo90) March 25, 2019
If I remember in one of the meetings of captains & match referee where I was also present as chairman it had been decided that if non striking batsman steps out bowler as a courtesy will not run him out @IPL @BCCI
— Rajeev Shukla (@ShuklaRajiv) March 25, 2019
Harsha Bhogle, who is widely acknowledged as the voice and face of Indian cricket, however said that irrespective of what Ashwin did, it was the umpire's decision. Let's have a look at some of his tweets..
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
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.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) 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
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
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 25, 2019
The BCCI has also said that there is no need for it to step in. “There is no question of lecturing Ashwin on spirit of the game. He did what is permissible within the rules of the game. The umpires and match referees are there to ensure that players compete as per laws of the game,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
