Mankading: No regrets, says Ashwin

New Delhi, April 4 

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Ravichandran Ashwin has absolutely “no regrets” having ‘Mankaded’ Jos Buttler in an IPL game and India off-spinner will certainly not be surprised if he finds England pacer Jimmy Anderson, who virtually ripped him to shreds, doing the same in near future.

Recently a crass video of Jimmy Anderson ripping Ashwin’s picture into shreds went viral and many felt that it was done in bad taste.

“Today Jimmy Anderson might feel that whatever I did was wrong. Maybe, tomorrow he might end up doing (Mankading) it. Who knows, it is all a question of perception of right and wrong. I don’t think in this case it is necessary because it is in the law and I did it,” said Ashwin.

Nothing illegal

The Kings XI Punjab skipper is clear that what he did was within the purview of the playing conditions. “Everybody who knows me, it is very clear (to them) that I don’t do anything that is illegal.” 

“Even my team has stood behind me since then. A lot many players have come to me and said whatever I did was absolutely right,” he said.

The ‘Mankading’ controversy evoked mixed reactions in the cricketing community with custodians of the game — Marylebone Cricket Club — also doing a flip-flop.

Asked whether the controversy has affected him, Ashwin answered in negative.  “Not really, it hasn’t affected me one bit. I am very happy for the fact that they (former and current England players) are standing up for their fellow countryman. I definitely do think that my countrymen have also stood up for me. And it is only fair that your peers stand up for you,” he said.

Debate can go on

The MCC after initially stating that Ashwin was right did a U-turn, stating that the “bowler paused in his delivery stride and waited for the batsman to leave the crease before running him out”.

Ashwin said the debates can continue “till cows come home”. “There have even been debates about whether I waited for him to walk out of the crease. But what people don’t understand is that I hadn’t even reached the crease and he started walking away. Once your action is complete, you cannot go down and hit the stumps,” he pointed. 

“I just feel by the whole criticism, the way people have reacted… it is just going to throw chills down the spine of a lot of bowlers about not wanting to do it again,” Ashwin opined.

Spirit of the game

The 32-year-old, who has 342 Test wickets and 150 ODI scalps to his credit, also doesn’t understand the fuss about the spirit of the game.

“There are people who have been speaking about the incident over and over again. People have nicked the ball and actually debated about taking a DRS. As a batsman when I nick the ball, I know I have nicked it so there is no question of deliberating or taking a DRS,” Ashwin tried to point at how some of the critics have changed their positions conveniently.

Just like Buttler, Ashwin also feels that the authorities should decide what is permissible as per rules of the game. “I actually think that if you bring in the spirit of the game into this and keep on talking about it again and again, it is up to the authorities to decide whether you want to continue this as a rule of the game or not.” — PTI