Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has come out to back Delhi Capitals’ Ravichandran Ashwin on the issue of Mankading. A recent incident involving Ravichandran Ashwin and Aaron Finch in the DC vs RCB clash, where the former only warned Finch of Mankading when he was caught running early from the non-striker’s end. Ashwin, who has joined DC from KXIP this season did mankading of Jos Buttler, last season in KXIP’s clash against RR.
However, Pietersen was not in the favour of Ashwin back then but now has grown a sentiment for him over the issues of Mankading.
I think what he did was perfect: Kevin Pietersen backs Ravichandran Ashwin on issuing Mankading warning to Finch
Kevin Pietersen, who is a part of the IPL commentary team mentioned that the act of Mankading was frowned upon when he played. He said Mankading is in the rule books and is to be allowed but seeing the Finch- Ashwin incident and how far Finch was before Ashwin released the ball, he feels Ashwin did the right thing.
“Apparently (Mankading) is in the coaching manuals now and is to be allowed,” said Pietersen.
“(But) seeing how far down the wicket Aaron Finch was, almost stealing two metres before Ashwin bowled, I think what he did was perfect, Finch, get back in your crease. Do not steal runs!” he added.
Kevin Pietersen says in the past 12 months he has changed his thoughts and he now backs Ashwin’s actions
KP revealed watching the same incident twelve months back, he would’ve criticized Ashwin’s act but not having analyzed it he feels it’s the right thing to do.
“Watching Ashwin do it twelve months ago I would have said, ‘come on mate, no no no’” but “having thought it over the past 12 months, (I think) it was absolutely perfect what he did,” said Kevin Pietersen.
In an opportunity to ‘Brown’ Aaron Finch, Ravichandran Ashwin gave it a pass and just warned the batsman. Ashwin had been warned by DC head coach Ricky Ponting to avoid Mankading before the season started.