Delhi Capitals spinner Ravichandran Ashwin revealed the chat he had with head coach Ricky Ponting about Mankading after their game against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Monday.
Ashwin decided not to Mankad RCB opener Aaron Finch in the second innings when they were defending 196 against Virat Kohli’s team.
He gave a warning to Finch for straying out of his crease before the ball left his hand instead of taking the bails off at the non-striker’s end, something which he did last season against Rajasthan Royals batsman Jos Buttler when Ashwin was leading the Kings XI Punjab.
But Ponting categorically told his players and Ashwin in particular, not to Mankad any batsman this season because that is not how DC plays its cricket.
“I didn’t give any message (with that look). I am not a big leader to give a message and all. I was about to complete my run up and then I saw a golden helmet moving forward, like a bogey that goes off.
“I stopped my bowling action and I was wondering whether to Mankad or not. Even when I was thinking, he didn’t return to the crease. He was looking at me. I didn’t know what that meant.
“He (Aaron Finch) is also my good friend from Kings XI Punjab. We have sat together and have passed time on many occasions. Okay, I thought I should announce this as my final warning,” Ashwin said on the latest eisode of his YouTube show ‘Hello Dubaiah’.
Ashwin then went on to reveal Ponting’s reaction after they mat in the dressing room after DC won the match by 59 runs stating that the former Australia captain is in talks with the ICC Cricket Committee about finding ways to stop the non-striker from backing up too far.
“Like they say in the move Ramana (Tami film), punishment should be severe. When the non-striker’s steps up out of the crease (before the ball is delivered), deduct 10 runs from the team’s score, no one will stray out.
“To run out batsmen at the non-striker’s end doesn’t require skill. But if batsmen keep going out, what other options do we have?
“I tagged Ponting also in the tweet. We met in the evening for a get-together. He was like ‘he went out too far out of the crease’. ‘I thought of getting up and asking you to hit the stumps’. I asked him about why he is saying this about an Australian mate?
“He said he has been talking to the ICC committee for run penalty. He is trying hard to keep up his words,” Ashwin said.