While many Pakistanis are not able to watch the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 due to a ban imposed by the government, the cash-rich league has been a talking point on social media following last night’s match.
The debate started following a controversial dismissal of Jos Buttler, who plays for Rajasthan Royals, by Kings XI Punjab captain Ravichandran Ashwin. The bowler mankaded Buttler when he was batting at 69 and left the popping crease.
While the act may have won KXIP the match, it has sparked a huge debate on whether it is in the spirit of the game or not. It is permitted by law to dismiss a batsman if he leaves the crease.
Without any further ado, here’s what happened.
Here’s what the Twitterati are saying on the controversy.
Here’s a side by side comparison of his normal delivery versus the mankad.
The footage clearly shows the bowler never intended to bowl and he just mimicked his action just to run him out. If this isn’t cheating, we don’t know what is.
Oh, the wrong guy.
You better stay behind the line.
And there’s Chris Gayle.
Players who had integrity, unlike Ashwin.
Batsmen be like.
Shane Warne is fuming at Ashwin’s pathetic behavior.
Disgraceful.
Ashwin and KXIP lost quite a few supporters last night.
Not good from Ashwin.
No fair play award for KXIP this year, for sure.
Post-match handshake.
Who is to blame?
The 32-year old has been facing quite a lot of hate from social media users around the world for his behavior.
Do you think the rule of mankading is fair and what Ashwin did does it even count as mankading or was it plain deception? Let us know in the comments section.
