It seems that the flamboyant English all-rounder, Ben Stokes has fed-up of the controversies in his cricket career. On Tuesday, he clarified well in advance that he would “never ever…” Mankad India skipper Virat Kohli even if he gets an opportunity to do so in the 2019 World Cup final.
Taking to Twitter, Stokes wrote,
“Hopefully I’m playing in the World Cup final and if @imVkohli is batting when I’m bowling I would never ever ever ever ever ever…..just clarifying to the mentions I’ve received. #hallabol”.
https://twitter.com/benstokes38/status/1110441943115272192
Ben Stokes’ statement comes after the question posted by Shane Warne on his social media followers as to how the cricket fraternity would have reacted if Stokes Mankaded Kohli at the World Cup.
Warne had channelized all his anger on Twitter regarding the first-ever instance of Mankading in Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday. The bowling legend blasted Kings XI Punjab skipper R Ashwin for coming up with a “disgraceful and embarrassing” act of running out Buttler at the non-striker’s end without giving him a prior warning.
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
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) March 25, 2019
Warne also took a dig at Indian experts, including Harsha Bhogle, for backing Ashwin even as social media was divided over the Mankading incident from the fourth match of IPL 2019 in Jaipur. He tweeted, “Harsha, if that had of been an international player you would have nailed him! Please do not be bias & stick up for your own. Any player in the game that does that to anyone is an embarrassment to the game & as captain, it’s even more disgraceful!”
WATCH – Twitterati Slams Ashwin For Mankading Jos Buttler
Similarly, slamming experts who had backed Ashwin, former England skipper Michael Vaughan asked if they would support a bowler who Mankads superstar cricketer, Virat.
I would say to all India ex players/Pundits who are supportive of what R Ashwin did … If @imVkohli was Batting would you be so supportive !!??? #NightAll #IPL #OnON
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 25, 2019
On Monday, during a match between RR and KXIP, after Buttler’s dismissal of 69 from 43 balls, the Royals suffered a collapse, losing their last seven wickets for just 22 runs. Despite being under the pump, skipper Ashwin gave a clarification to his act, saying he played by the rules when he ran Buttler out at the non-striker’s end.
ALSO READ: Match 4 (RR vs KXIP): Turning Point Of The Match
During the post-match presentation, Ashwin said, “It was pretty instinctive. I actually didn’t load and he (Buttler) left the crease. That’s always been my take on it because it’s my half of the crease. I was not even at the crease, he wasn’t even looking at me and he just left the place”.
Fans reacted to Stokes’ tweet mostly in an affirmative way and here are some tweets:
First tell me who told you that you will play the #CWC19 final https://t.co/c8i21FAuqB
— sk (@shivam1794) March 26, 2019
https://twitter.com/vanillawallah/status/1110444811255975936
https://twitter.com/ace_shaykh/status/1110443149825097728
