Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin recalled the incident when he made headlines in the spirit-of-cricket debate by running out non-striker Jos Buttler without delivering the ball during an IPL 2019 match between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) as well. The infamous incident happened in Jaipur when the Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Ashwin, ran in to bowl the second last ball of his final over, but he didn’t deliver the ball after entering his delivery stride, as the Rajasthan Royals (RR) opener Buttler had stepped out of the crease without the ball being bowled by him as well.
Using the opportunity, Ravichandran Ashwin then broke the stumps at the non-striker’s end and got Buttler out as well. The decision was referred to the third umpire, who also confirmed Jos Buttler’s dismissal, as Mankading’s run-out was well within the game’s law as well. Soon after Jos Buttler had a heated exchange with Ashwin while waiting for the third umpire’s verdict as well. However, Buttler and Ashwin are now teammates, playing for RR together since 2022 as well.
Ravichandran Ashwin was quoted as saying by RevSportz: “See, in the Buttler episode, my team was shocked. They were looking at each other and I called them into a hurdle and said that this is a game-breaking moment. All I want now is that you guys focus on the game and win the game. Because I am not just doing this for the sake of it, I also want to win the game. A lot of people who come and talk about it, make a mistake by saying that it was done intentionally to change the flow of the game. Of course, it was done with intent and it is within the rules. If I am using that as an advantage, I will, as I am not cheating anyone.”
“After playing so much cricket over the years, I have learned that I do not have to convince anybody. I don’t believe that it is required at all to have a conversation. He will not make any changes to his stance as he has said many times that he would not run somebody out at the non-striker’s end in a semi-final or final like that,” Ravichandran Ashwin concluded.
