If there is anything 2019 taught us about Ravichandran Ashwin, it was that the Indian cricketer does not back down from confronting anyone.
It all started during the previous season of the Indian Premier League when the then Kings XI Punjab skipper Ashwin dismissed Rajasthan Royals batsman Jos Buttler by âmankadingâ him.
Ravi Ashwinâs Mankad garnered widespread condemnation from the cricket world.
But thereâs another key side to the debate.
MORE: https://t.co/OHfU7KCorD pic.twitter.com/U35w475JYS
By ripping the bails off the stumps at the non-strikerâs end even before delivering the ball when the Englishman was out of the crease, Ashwin created a stir on social media with many calling it unsportsmanlike while others showing the all-rounder some support as it was not illegal according to the rules of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
âNo real argument on that and it was pretty instinctive. I didn't even load and he (Buttler) just left the crease. We ended on the right side of the coin, but I definitely think that those are game-changing moments and batsmen need to be wary of it,â Ashwin told Harsha Bhogle in the award distribution ceremony after the game.
EXCLUSIVE: @jimmy9 give us his unique take on @josbuttlerâs controversial run out last week...
More rows should be settled like this.
Full story on this weekâs #Tailenders https://t.co/YOQ4PMSwiu pic.twitter.com/hYCPpdSqJm
Buttlerâs former teammate James âJimmyâ Anderson, however, did not want to let go of this issue that easily and in a viral video went on to rip one of Ashwinâs images into pieces using a paper shredder. To this Ashwin had said: âToday Jimmy Anderson might feel that whatever I did was wrong. Maybe, tomorrow he might end up doing it [a 'Mankad']. Who knows? It is 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.â
âEverybody who knows me, it is very clear (to them) that I don't do anything that is illegal,â he had said.
But even though years changed and decades changed, is it clear that Ashwin did not forget the sight of Anderson shredding his picture. So when the former wrote a tweet about abolishing the rule of âmankadingâ from the books of the ICC and the MCC, the Chennai player found his opening.
On Friday, Afghanistan's Noor Ahmad got rid of Pakistanâs Mohammad Huraria by âmankadingâ him during the U19 World Cup quarterfinals. Just like any other controversial moment in international cricket, this too led to social media dividing into two sides to discuss what had happened.
Where do you stand on the Mankad at the Under-19 World Cup?#U19CWCpic.twitter.com/br9p4YanoO
â The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) January 31, 2020However, it was Jimmy Anderson who created the biggest noise:
Can we sort out (remove) this law please @ICC #MCC?? https://t.co/dec60oogif
â James Anderson (@jimmy9) January 31, 2020And Ashwin had to say something about it:
Law removal might need some deliberation!! A Shredder might do the trick for now𤩠https://t.co/8z5TNT57kZ
â Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) February 1, 2020Both Ashwin and Anderson share a unique rivalry. In that, they somehow manage to cross paths whenever a âmankadingâ incident happens. While the English pacer seems to be absolutely against this rule, Ashwin believes that it is completely legal and the bowlers should do it whenever the opportunity presents itself.
In December Ashwin took to Twitter to share some time with his fans and interact with them a little. One of the fans asked : âWho are the potential batsmen you can Mankad this IPL? #askashâ, to which the all-rounder replied: âAnyone that goes out of the crease.â

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