"Rightly So": Ravichandran Ashwin On Jos Buttler Being "Upset" After 'Mankad' Episode In 2019 IPL

Ravichandran Ashwin and Jos Buttler will be sharing the dressing room for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2022 and fans are eagerly waiting to see how the duo gets along and puts in a collective performance for the franchise. Both Ashwin and Buttler were involved in the 'Mankad' episode in the 2019 IPL that captured the imagination of the entire cricket fraternity. Recalling the incident, Ashwin said that he felt Buttler was "deflated" and "quite upset" about the entire saga.

The off-spinner went on to say that he "totally understands" why Buttler felt that way because it's not something that "happens day in and day out"

The then Punjab Kings skipper Ashwin had run Buttler out at the non-strikers end after the England batter was out of his crease as Ashwin was about to deliver the ball.

"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. 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," Ashwin told The Times of India.

"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," he stated further.

It is important to note that 'Mankad' was legitimised this year by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the body said that it is not considering the mode of dismissal as unfair play.

Talking about his dismissal in 2019 IPL, Buttler said: "If the batter just holds his ground till the ball is released, then there's never any