Rajasthan Royals (RR) team mentor Shane Warne took a huge dig at Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) skipper Ravichandran Ashwin after the ‘Mankad’ dismissal of Jos Buttler during their IPL 2019 match on Monday in Jaipur. RR opener, Buttler was Mankaded on 69 while he was at the non-striker’s end, as Ashwin whipped off the bails instead of completing his delivery.
Many opined that Ashwin should have warned Buttler before ‘mankading’ him and that an international bowler of his class could have hoped for a clean and controversy-free dismissal. The off-spinner, on his part, has said that it was an instinctive reaction from him and one in the heat of the moment. Warne, however, has criticized the spinner saying Ashwin should play in the spirit of the game.
Talking to Twitter, Warne wrote, “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.”
ALSO READ: Ben Stokes Clarifies He Will Never Mankad Virat Kohli
In another tweet, he added, “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 !.”
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
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
In a third tweet, he asked if Ben Stokes would have been let go of as easily Ashwin escaped a punishment.
Warner added, “Sorry – one more thing to add. If Ben Stokes did what Ashwin did to @imVkohli it would be ok ? I’m just very disappointed in Ashwin as I thought he had integrity & class. Kings lost a lot of supporters tonight. Especially young boys and girls ! I do hope the BCCI does something”.
ALSO READ: Ashwin’s ‘Mankaded’ controversy divided BCCI
The Indian fans on Twitter were clearly unhappy with Warne judging Ashwin because the Australian himself was caught in a lot of controversies during his playing days. The Australian leggie’s misdemeanors off the field often took precedence over his on-field heroics. From dealings with a bookie to dirty talk with a nurse and other sexcapades, Warne’s career was full of controversies.
Here’s how Twitter reacted when the king of controversies Shen Warne chose to judge Ashwin:
He is Still better than others who involved in the Ball Tampering and got Ban from international Cricket for few years… 😂 #IPL2019 #KXIPvRR #playasperrules else remove that rule…
— Chowkidar Harshil Mantri (@Harshil__Mantri) March 26, 2019
What u did with Marlon Samuels in BBL ..???Can u recall that one ..?? Where were ur sprit that time ??
— Ankit Kumar (@AnkitKu42876462) March 26, 2019
So you saying that pulling t-shirt and sledge opponent is a good spirit of game .
— Jasmin Patel (@imjaspatel) March 26, 2019
Appalled…Lessons of grace from australian cricketer
— Smit Parmar (@smitparmar7) March 26, 2019
Have a look in the mirror first and then point at others Mr Warne.
— Ank Mehta #45 (@The2HundredMan) March 26, 2019
Well. When you hear a Australian talk about the spirit of the game 😅
— Dnyanesh Thombre (@Dnyanesh_T) March 26, 2019
You are banned for year by ACB for doping charges, entire world know about the tactics cheating mind games played by Aussies against their opponents
"100chuhe khake billi haj ko chali "— Kathan Vyas (@VyasKathan) March 26, 2019
Says a man whose team tells the umpire what to do 🙄
— Abijith Mednikar (@Mednikar) March 26, 2019
And this is coming from an all time honourable exponent of the gentleman's game🤔#shamewarne
— M A Ratna (@maratnasiri) March 25, 2019
True that coming from a graceful cricketer like Shane Warne who always played in the spirit of the game. Warne was a phenomena & a synonym to high morales in the cricketing world which was otherwise filled with drug abusers, sledgers and players accepting money from the bookies. https://t.co/GVE5W3kXNy
— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) March 25, 2019
Dear @ShaneWarne this for you pic.twitter.com/YnUCaJBDca
— Anand UV 🇮🇳 (@Ananduvi) March 26, 2019
The word is “integrity”!
— Pragyan Prayas Ojha (@pragyanojha) March 25, 2019
