IPL and controversy have an old and close relationship. In the past eleven seasons, the competition has seen quite a number of controversies. Well, the first controversy of this season took place on Monday during the fourth game between Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab in Jaipur. Kings XI Punjab skipper R Ashwin created a stir by running out Jos Buttler by Mankad.
Named after former Indian cricketer Vinoo Mankad, the dismissal, in which the bowler run out the non-striker batsman when backing up and leaving his crease , is very much legal but is widely considered against the spirit of the game. Unsurprisingly, the latest Mankad incident is also attracting widespread criticism with Ashwin facing the flak from all around.
Chasing a daunting 185, the Royals were off to a solid start. Their openers – Ajinkya Rahane and Jos Buttler fired on all cylinders right from the word go, helping Royals reach fifty in just 5.4 overs. R Ashwin then gave the visitors the much-needed first breakthrough when he dismissed Rahane for 27 to end the 78-run stand.
However, it did not bring any respite for Kings XI as Buttler kept playing the big shots. The England wicketkeeper-batsman reached his third consecutive fifty against Kings XI off just 29 deliveries. Buttler ad looked in imperious touch, scoring 69 from 43 balls as the hosts looked well on course to chase down the target before Ashwin ran Buttler out. A furious Buttler had no other option but to walk away.
And after the game, Buttler made it clear that he was miffed with Ashwin as he refused to look him into the eye while the players were shaking hands. Keeping up with the decorum of the game, Buttler did shake hands with Ashwin but his reaction said it all. Royals coach Paddy Upton was then seen saying something to Ashwin who soon turned back with an amused look.
Here is a clip of that entire incident:
— KhurShah (@ShahKhur) March 25, 2019
Royals, meanwhile, eventually collapsed to a 14-run defeat. After Buttler’s dismissal, Steve Smith and Sanju Samson added 40 runs for the third wicket. However, debutant Sam Curran dismissed both of them inside an over to turn the game on its head. Royals eventually finished on 170 for 9 despite being 148 for 2 at one stage.