Aakash Chopra Wants To Be In Delhi’s Dugout To The Watch Debate

Aakash Chopra, a former Indian opener and now serving as a commentator, has revealed his desire to be in the Delhi Capitals’ (DC) dressing room, to witness Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin — and head coach Ricky Ponting having a debate over Mankading which is the term named after Vinoo Mankad for his controversial dismissal of non-striker before completing bowling action.

Ravichandran Ashwin had dismissed Jos Buttler of Rajasthan Royals, who were playing against his erstwhile team Kings XI Punjab in the controversial mode. Ashwin was traded in Delhi Capitals team in 2020. Their head coach Ricky Ponting insisted that he will not allow him to do it again this time for Delhi Capitals as ‘Mankading’ is against the spirit of cricket.

Aakash Chopra Feels Mankading Should Go To Bowler’s Account

Mankading has happened only 4 times in Tests,5 times in ODIs, 1 time in T20Is and only once in IPL. The last one happened during 2019 IPL in March.

“The story started last year when Rajasthan Royals was playing Kings XI Punjab where Ravichandran Ashwin stopped in his action, took a long pause during which Buttler left the crease and Ashwin removed the bails and he got given out in the end.”

https://twitter.com/ESPNcricinfo/status/1296073178549125120?s=20

Aakash Chopra also gave his opinion on the much-debated Mankading issue while speaking on his YouTube channel, in the context of DC Head Coach Ricky Ponting’s recent statement that he would not allow the form of dismissal.

“Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain is saying that it is against the ethics, that you should not Mankad anyone and his team will not be doing that and he would be talking with Ravichandran Ashwin regarding that.”

Aakash Chopra observed that the ICC had initially agreed with the bowler but later changed their verdict by stating that Ravichandran Ashwin had waited for a long time before removing the bails of the wicket which was not noticed and felt by the third umpire at that time.

“Initially ICC mentioned that that it was absolutely correct but later changed their verdict that he had waited for too long. That decision of run out was referred to the third umpire and he did not feel that Ashwin was dodging by waiting too long.”

Fellow commentator Harsha Bhogle, however, felt that the third umpire had ruled him out so there was no question of not following spirit or rules of cricket as the umpire was on the ICC elite panel and also a custodian of the laws of cricket. Harsha Bhogle conveyed his final decision through a Twitter handle.

My final point on this. Ashwin ran Buttler out. It went to the 3rd umpire who is on the ICC Elite panel. He looked at the replays & said the non-striker was out. He is the custodian of the laws & playing conditions. So irrespective of what Ashwin did, it was the umpire's decision

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 25, 2019

“But the big debate is if this is correct or not. So what Ricky Ponting is saying, is that correct or Ashwin’s stand is correct.”

“Ricky Ponting is coming from the perspective that you are taking a little start and not trying to steal a single and it is the duty of the bowler to warn the batsman.”

“But the other side is that there are some laws of cricket. So if the law has been made that when you go out, you can be dismissed from behind, then why a warning in such a case.”

“I am also on that side because I feel if something is within the law, how can it be against the spirit of the game. I don’t like the ethical debate on Mankading one bit.”

Aakash Chopra played 10 tests for India and featured in Kolkata Knight Riders squad only in 2008.

Aakash Chopra Agrees With Sunil Gavaskar To Rename Mankading As Browned

Aakash Chopra also agreed with Sunil Gavaskar’s views that the dismissal should be called Browned after the name of the batsman who was dismissed, rather than being named after Vinoo Mankad. This method of dismissal involved the Indian bowler Vinoo Mankad and it occurred during India’s tour of Australia. On 13 December 1947 in the second Test at Sydney, he ran out Bill Brown when, while delivering the ball, he held on to it and removed the bails with Brown well short of his crease.

This was the second time he had similarly dismissed Brown on the tour, having already done it in an earlier match against an Australian XI. But, on that occasion, though he had warned him once before running him out. Since this incident in 1947, a non-striker dismissed in this fashion is said to have been “Mankaded”.

“Mankading also was named after Vinoo Mankad, although the batsman’s name was Brown. He was taking a start and Mankad dismissed him and it has been given the name Mankading since then. I feel it should be called Browned, as Sunil Gavaskar also says.”

Aakash Chopra expressed his desire to be a fly on the wall and be present on the Delhi Capitals dugout when Ravichandran Ashwin and Ricky Ponting are debating over the matter.

“But now I want to be a fly on the wall when Ricky Ponting and R Ashwin confront each other on Mankading. I know Ashwin, he is a very strong character who sticks to his beliefs, so he is going to have an objection and Ponting is not going to allow it.”

Aakash Chopra mentioned that the likelihood of a heated debate in the Delhi Capitals camp over this subject persists.

“So there could be a conflict of sorts brewing in the Delhi Capitals camp.”

It will be interesting to see the reaction of Delhi Capitals and the team management’s handling of the Mankading issue, with their head coach and senior bowler having a disagreement on the subject and are at loggerheads.