During the game between Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Ravi Ashwin did an unimaginable thing that the world started talking about this. He dismissed RR’s wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler in a way which is popularly known as ‘Mankading’ in the non-strikers’ end. Ashwin looked very excited when he ‘Mankaded’ Buttler. However, that became the turning point in the game as KXIP bounced back from there and registered a win.

 

 

Everyone from cricket fraternity to normal people started commenting on that ever since that incident took place. The entire cricketing fraternity has divided into two halves because of this controversy, some are supporting Ashwin whereas others are against him. However, ICC felt that this was within the rules what Ashwin did. Former South Africa batsman AB de Villiers was the newest entry in the list. In his column for TOI, he shared that he felt sorry for Buttler but he also said that what Ashwin did was not wrong.

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“I felt sorry for Buttler because he wasn’t trying to steal a run, and Ashwin did nothing wrong because he was operating within the laws,” wrote de Villers.

However, RCB had a very poor start in this season of IPL. They were bowled out for a minimal total of 70 on board at the Chepauk against CSK. Apart from Parthiv Patel, no one was able to reach the double figures. AB de Villiers, meanwhile expressed that the team will be more or less similar despite the loss.

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“There are unlikely to be many changes in our team to play MI. We underperformed in Chennai but the balance feels right and, very often, it is consistency in selection that enables a team to build momentum. That’s what we need right now… consistency and momentum, and an opening home victory over MI will get our campaign up and running,” de Villiers further added.