Kapil questioned why is the onus of maintaining 'spirit of the game' only on the bowler?
Former India captain Kapil Dev firmly believes Delhi Capitals (DC) off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin should've gone ahead and run out Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) opener Aaron Finch for backing too far without any hesitation.
In Match 19 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, the instance of Ashwin, who had last year ran out Rajasthan Royals' (RR) Jos Buttler at the non-striker's end, almost giving a warning and not going ahead and dismissing Finch, went viral as debates around 'Mankading' re-triggered.
Kapil, however, holds no doubt on the matter.
"Ashwin should have run him out. As simple as that," he was quoted as saying by Sportstar, having done so himself during an ODI against South Africa in 1992-93 season at Port Elizabeth.
“I did feel bad about what had happened but then I had to because Peter just won’t mend his ways of straying down the pitch even before I had bowled," said Kapil.
"Not that I enjoyed doing what I did but he was not being fair. His argument was that he had to do it to match the running speed of his [partner] Jonty Rhodes. That was not my headache."
Kapil asked when there is so much scrutiny on the bowlers over their performances, why the reactions are cold when a batsman is clearly seen stealing those extra crucial inches that could make a big impact on the outcome of the matches?
“There is such scrutiny that a no-ball is watched so very closely by the technology available. Of course, no-ball is not a legal delivery but then is the batsman not ‘stealing’ the run by standing outside the crease to gain unfair advantage? Isn’t there a law in this regard?”.
The law 42.15 adopted by the ICC states, 'The bowler is permitted, before releasing the ball and provided he has not completed his usual delivery swing, to attempt to run out the non-striker.'
Kapil pointed out this to also raise an issue against what is a conveniently used term, 'Spirit of the game'.
“It’s a rule. There’s no spirit of the game involved here,” he said.
Murali Kartik, another former India cricketer and active commentator, thinks the 'Spirit of the game' is a ridiculous argument when all a bowler is doing is upholding the laws.
"It’s spirit of the game if a bowler plays by the law. Where is this written? This spirit of the game! Which book has this been explained in? Which book store can I purchase this phantom book from that explains the spirit of the game," he said.
Kartik, during his time in English county cricket, had six instances of running-out a non-striker. "Each time on those six occasions I had warned the non-striker. If it comes to it I would do this ten times in an innings." he said. "Why should the batsman get unfair advantage?"
Taking this forward, Kapil believes, the solution is to "penalise the batsman with a short run ruling. Or a five-run penalty can be a strong deterrent. Two runs to win off the last ball. You run two. And then the umpire rules one run short."
"I want to see how many batsmen would stand outside the crease if the rule of short run is introduced for backing too far."
“Ashwin did the right thing because he would have been savaged by those who talk of spirit of the game. But I would have run out Finch," said Kartik.
Lastly, Kapil offered a suggestion to ensure parity.
“It should be the third umpire’s job now. He watches the no-ball for the bowler over-stepping. Now watch the batsman too for over-stepping. High time this issue is dealt with in a fair manner to the bowlers. In the spirit of the game!" he signed off.