During the fourth match of the ongoing season of the cash-rich, Indian Premier League (IPL) between the northern rivals Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. The KXIP opener, Chris Gayle registered his 25th IPL half-century as he amassed 79 runs off just 47 balls. He helped KXIP to reach the total of 184/4 which was sufficient for them to win the game by 14 runs.
After winning the toss, the RR skipper, Ajinkya Rahane decided to bowl first and his bowlers responded well as Dhawan Kulkarni dismissed KXIP opener, KL Rahul in the first over itself leaving with Mayank Agarwal and Chris Gayle at the crease. During the toss, the KXIP skipper, R Ashwin revealed foreign players in the squad as Gayle, Mujeeb Zadran, Sam Curran and Nicholas Pooran. On the other hand, RR decided to go with Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Steve Smith, and Jofra Archer.
WATCH – Twitterati Slams Ashwin For Mankading Jos Buttler
Despite the rough start, Mayank and Gayle stabilized the innings as they amassed 56 runs for the second wicket. Gayle took his time before letting loose. The same was evident from the fact that KXIP had managed just 32 runs in the first six overs. But Gayle storm and some good batting from Sarfraz Khan (46) helped the Kings to reach the total of 184/4 in their quota of 20 overs.
During the chase, the RR openers, Rahane and Jos Buttler (69) punished the visiting bowlers badly as they were 64/0 after the powerplay was over. But, Ashwin broke the partnership of 78 runs in the 9th over. He also dismissed Buttler in the 13th over in one of the more bizarre way possible as he Mankaded Buttler on the penultimate delivery of the over.
WATCH – Sam Curran Takes Two Crucial Wickets In One Over
However, in the 17 over of the chase, before which Rajasthan needed 39 runs to win, the young all-rounder, Sam Curran two crucial wickets of Steve Smith and Sanju Samson. Leaving the hosts with the equation of 35 runs in 18 balls. However, in the next over, Mujeeb Ur Rahman also took two crucial wickets of Ben Stokes and Rahul and which almost ended the game for the hosts as they needed 27 runs off the last two overs. Eventually, they lost the game by 14 runs.
Brief Score:
Kings XI Punjab – 184/4 (C Gayle: 79, S Khan: 46*; B Stokes: 2/48) defeated Rajasthan Royals – 170/9 (J Buttler: 69; Mujeeb Rahman: 2/31, A Rajpoot: 2/33) by 14 runs
This is how Twitterati reacted after Punjab’s win:
Average behaviour from R Ashwin in the @IPL
Is that really how you want to win a game of cricket??? #KXIPvRR— Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93) March 25, 2019
As if Ashwin has just done that. #Pathetic
— Ben Duckett (@BenDuckett1) March 25, 2019
Well the fair play award isn’t going to Mohali this year….
— Sam Billings (@sambillings) March 25, 2019
Oh this is ugly…Ashwin Mankading Butler…but that's the kind of pressure u've in #ipl @indiatvnews
— Samip Rajguru (@samiprajguru) March 25, 2019
Not the first time Jos Buttler has been "Mankaded". Sri Lanka's Sachithra Senanayake ran Buttler out in the same fashion during an ODI in 2014 but after giving a warning. #IPL2019 #RRvKXIP
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) March 25, 2019
This is the first such instance of a player has been mankaded in IPL – Jos Buttler by Ravichandran Ashwin. #RRvKXIP
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) March 25, 2019
Hahahaahaha Ashwin u little Rippa Hahahaha 🤣🤣🤣 this is historic only way to get him out 🤷🏾♂️ well I’ll take it hahahahaha Ashwin , Ppl need to know it’s the rules and until it’s change guys will do it , but Jos stealing as well getting a head start for a run 🤷🏾♂️ #IPL2019
— Tino95 (@tinobest) March 25, 2019
It’s LITERALLY in the LAWS OF CRICKET. No warning needed. Anyone who says “there should be a warning” is a batsman. Out is out. There’s absolutely NO difference from being out stumped. In fact, you know what? Call it a stumping.
JC Buttler st & b Ashwin 69.#IPL2019 #RRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/USKhdvtsGz— Iceland Cricket (@icelandcricket) March 25, 2019
Opinions ??? pic.twitter.com/9IXy0MqXRY
— Carlos Brathwaite (@TridentSportsX) March 25, 2019
Feel sad for #JosButtler. Hope this rule changes to give a compulsory warning first, before a bowler can go for #mankading #VivoIPL #RRvKXIP #SpiritOfTheGame!
— Pragyan Prayas Ojha (@pragyanojha) March 25, 2019
Ashwin playing within the rules but there is something called the spirit of the game? Did he warn Butler even once before Mankading him? First real debate of this @IPL
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) March 25, 2019
Ashwin playing within the rules but there is something called the spirit of the game? Did he warn Butler even once before Mankading him? First real debate of this @IPL
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) March 25, 2019
