IPL 2022: It's not a question of character assassination, says Ravichandran Ashwin on the 2019 run out of Jos Buttler

Ravichandran Ashwin and Jos Buttler on run-outs, rivalries, player fatigue and playing together for Rajasthan Royals...We got two giants of the modern game, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and England's Jos Buttler, to sit down for a chat ahead of Rajasthan Royals' opening game. Ashwin is known for his cerebral approach while Buttler has revolutionised white-ball batting. Of course, 'that' 2019 incident in which Ashwin ran out non-striker Buttler for backing up came up too! Excerpts...Do you think your little bust-up in the 2019 IPL played a part in the MCC legitimising the running out of non-strikers who are backing up? Now that it's no longer termed 'unfair play', will it become more acceptable?Ashwin: When the incident happened, I think it was Jos who felt deflated about it and quite upset.

Rightly so, because it's not accepted practice. It's not something that happens day in and day out. I can totally understand that.

Whether it's going to be accepted or not accepted widely by different quadrants of the cricketing community is something that we'll have to wait and watch. But the pace at which the game is going, the professionals are evolving and how the players are perceiving the game, I just hope and wish that it is looked upon as a legitimate form of dismissal. But whether somebody chooses to do it, or not to do it, is entirely up to them and it's not a question of character assassination.

Buttler: If the batter just holds his ground till the ball is released, then there's never any issue. I've been run out that way twice in my career. So hopefully, I've learned my lesson now.

It's hard sometimes to describe the emotion. You're trying hard for your team and you're always desperate to win. Of course, it's a surprise