Ravichandran Ashwin finally revealed the interaction he had with the head coach of Delhi Capitals, Ricky Ponting about Mankading after their match on Monday. Ashwin’s decision not to Mankad Aaron Finch once again gave birth to divided opinions on the age-old topic.
Ashwin reveals what happened next
Delhi Capitals spinner Ravichandran Ashwin not to Mankad Royal Challengers Bangalore opener Aaron Finch when Virat Kohli’s team was in a tough task of chasing 196 runs. He instead decides to warn Finch for staying out of the crease. The same episode had happened with English batsman Buttler and the then Kings XI Punjab captain Ravichandran Ashwin in IPL 2020. But at that time, Ashwin had decided to Mankad Buttler and eventually been criticized a lot by many citing the spirits of the game.
Speaking about the same on his YouTube channel show ‘Hello Dubaiah’ Ashwin said, “I didn’t give any message (with that look). I am not a big leader to give a message and all. I was about to complete my run up and then I saw a golden helmet moving forward, like a bogey that goes off.” He added, “I stopped my bowling action and I was wondering whether to Mankad or not. Even when I was thinking, he didn’t return to the crease. He was looking at me. I didn’t know what that meant.”
Ponting in touch with ICC committed
Regarding Finch, Ashwin commented, “He (Aaron Finch) is also my good friend from Kings XI Punjab. We have sat together and have passed time on many occasions. Okay, I thought I should announce this as my final warning.” Ashwin raised a question for all, “To run out batsmen at the non-striker’s end doesn’t require skill. But if batsmen keep going out, what other options do we have?” He suggested, “Like they say in the move Ramana (Tami film), punishment should be severe. When the non-striker’s steps up out of the crease (before the ball is delivered), deduct 10 runs from the team’s score, no one will stray out.
The camera captured Ponting’s reaction after the incident that went viral in no time. Ashwin ahead of IPL 2020 was reportedly going to have a chat with Ricky Ponting especially about this issue. So after the incident, what the two discussed was something netzines were curious to know. “I tagged Ponting also in the tweet. We met in the evening for a get-together. He was like ‘he went out too far out of the crease’. ‘I thought of getting up and asking you to hit the stumps’. I asked him about why he is saying this about an Australian mate?” Ashwin further informed, “He said he has been talking to the ICC committee for run penalty. He is trying hard to keep up his words.”