Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed an interesting behind-the-scenes conversation with Shreyas Iyer from the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL), shedding fresh light on how seriously captains viewed the possibility of a non-striker run-out, popularly known as the “Mankad.” Ashwin, who became the face of the dismissal after running out Rajasthan Royals batter Jos Buttler during IPL 2019, admitted that the incident had such a lasting impact that rival captains began discussing it with him even before matches.
Speaking during a Star Sports segment, Ravichandran Ashwin recalled a conversation with Shreyas Iyer, who was then captaining the Delhi Capitals, ahead of their clash against Punjab Kings in Mohali. According to the veteran spinner, Iyer approached him at the toss with a proposal regarding non-striker run-outs.
“I played for Delhi next year. I went to Delhi from Punjab. Ricky Ponting and Shreyas were the captains. Do you know what happened? We were playing in Punjab and Delhi came to Mohali to play the match. Shreyas told me during the toss that he won’t play that (Mankad) and I won’t either. I replied I am not coming in for this pact,” Ravichandran Ashwin said. “Next year I went to Delhi and asked him if he would appeal. He said no, he won’t,” he added.
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The revelation surprised the hosts, as Ravichandran Ashwin had never publicly spoken about the exchange before. His response also highlighted his firm stance on the mode of dismissal, making it clear that he was unwilling to enter into any informal agreement that would prevent him from using a legal method of getting a batter out.
The discussion traces back to one of the IPL’s most controversial moments in 2019, when Ashwin dismissed Jos Buttler at the non-striker’s end after the England batter left his crease before the ball was delivered. The dismissal divided the cricket fraternity, with many questioning the spirit of the game despite the act being fully legal under the Laws of Cricket.
Over time, however, opinions have shifted significantly. As players, coaches and match officials became more familiar with the law, the dismissal gradually gained wider acceptance across international and domestic cricket. The ICC later reclassified the dismissal as a standard run-out, removing much of the stigma that had surrounded the term “Mankad.”
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Today, non-strikers are far more cautious about backing up too early, knowing they can be legally run out if they leave the crease before the bowler releases the ball. Ashwin’s willingness to enforce the law played a major role in changing perceptions, and his latest anecdote involving Shreyas Iyer offers another fascinating glimpse into how the incident influenced captains and teams during the IPL.
What was once one of cricket’s most divisive topics has now become an accepted part of the modern game, with Ashwin remaining at the centre of that transformation.
