Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Monday (August 24) said he has had a word with Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting over phone, hinting at the Mankading debate that has grabbed headlines ahead of the 13th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL).
R Ashwin, who reached UAE with the Capitals squad over the weekend, revealed he had a fascinating chat with Ponting but did not reveal any details about the conversation.
Recently, Ponting said he will have a "hard conversation" with Ashwin when they meet in UAE for IPL 2020 regarding the use of 'Mankading'. The former Australia skipper also made it clear that the team he oversees has a strict policy to not indulge in the controversial mode of dismissal.
"Ricky Ponting hasn't yet reached (Dubai). After he comes, we will sit for a chat with him. He said he wants to have a conversation. We have already spoken over the phone. It was a very interesting chat," Ashwin said in his new 'Hello Dubaiahh?' YouTube show.
"What happens sometimes is Australians' messages in English get lost in translation and reach us with a different meaning. Even some of their jokes become news. That's what it is and next week I will reveal a bit more about my conversation with Ricky."
Ashwin's act of running out Rajasthan Royals' Jos Buttler for backing up too far as captain of Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2019 had triggered a massive uproar and did polarise opinions. While many came out in his support as the form of dismissal is part of the laws, some cited the spirit of the game to crucify the move.
Ponting too brought up the Spirit of Cricket argument to put forward his message.
"I'll be having a chat with him about (Mankad), that's the first thing I'll do," Ponting had said on The Grade Cricketer Podcast.
"That's going to be a conversation and that's going to be a hard conversation I will have to have with him, but I'm pretty sure he'll take it on the chin.
"I think, even him, looking back now, probably he'd say it was within the rules and he's right to do it, but this is not within the spirit of the game, not in the way I want, at least with the Delhi Capitals anyway."
