As per Delhi Capitals’ CEO Dhiraj Malhotra, head coach for Shreyas Iyer-led side Ricky Ponting’s comments were blown out of proportion – and the latter shares a good bond with veteran off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin.
In the same context, Malhotra had come forward following comprehensive conservation between Ponting and Ashwin over the ‘Mankad’ debate.
“It was totally taken out of context. Ponting was having a banter with his friends back home, it was not how it was portrayed,” Malhotra told Khaleej Times in an interview.
No hard feelings at all: Dhiraj Malhotra on Ponting and Ashwin relationship
Pertinently, Ponting had recently agreed with Ashwin that backing too far at non-striker’s end should be considered as ‘cheating’ if it happens too often much before the bowler is yet to bowl a delivery. He also suggested that such acts should face a penalty – in a bid to make them understand that they’re doing wrong.
While lavishing praise on both star cricketers, Malhotra remarked that they have already spoken out in a recently-held show. He further added they don’t hold any grudge whatsoever ahead of the beginning of a new IPL season on September 19.
“Both are very serious cricketers and top personalities. They had already spoken about it in a chat show. They had a very good conversation about it. It is important that they have cleared the air. There are no hard feelings at all,” Dhiraj Malhotra said.
Ricky Ponting and Ashwin cleared the air over Mankad debate:
In his recent podcast with Ashwin, Ponting cleared the air after deciding not to allow the star Chennai-based off-spinner to opt for Mankading.
“He (Ashwin) made me get on a podcast with him when I first arrived here to have a good open chat about it. I think we’re both on the same page. He feels he did everything in the rules and laws of the game and he’s absolutely right,” Ponting told Cricket Australia.
It all started back in 2019 when Ashwin Mankaded Jos Buttler. The senior off-spinner Ashwin had enraged fans apart from the senior cricketers. However, he had received equal support for doing whatever was possible within the laws of the game despite facing the heat over hurting ‘Spirit of Cricket’.
All in all, Malhotra is satisfied as both cricketers are sharing a similar understanding over Mankading even though Ponting wants Ashwin to caution the batsman. He made the statement after Ashwin and Ponting had discussed Mankad in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Meanwhile, Delhi will take on Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in the second match of the IPL 2020 on September 20 at Dubai International Stadium