Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Dinesh Karthik on Saturday (August 22) weighed in over the ‘Mankading’ debate, saying a bowler should be allowed to run out non-strikers if they are found wandering outside the crease without being subjected to criticism invoking the ‘Spirit of Cricket'.
Karthik further opined that the Spirit of Cricket is a massive grey area and people tend to use it to their advantage when things don’t go their way.
"I think every time a batsman crosses (the line before ball is delivered), the bowler should be allowed to create a run out. I don't think there is any spirit of cricket question that is there in that. Because I feel if a batsman nicks a ball and he doesn't walk, where is the spirit then?" he told Cricketnext as part of the Laws of Cricket Challenge.
According to Karthik, it was not fair to subject bowlers to all sorts of questioning when the rule itself mentions that they can do it. He also pointed out the hypocrisy that no one ever questioned the batsmen for taking advantage by leaving the crease early.
"I think you need to be fair. You should take it out of the bowler's hand and the umpire's hand. It is either out or a not out, that's all. There is no question of asking the captain, asking the referee and those kind of things.
"I think a batsman at the point of delivery should definitely stay within the crease, as simple as that. If the batsman goes out, then the bowler can dislodge the bails and there should be no question about that.
"Because that means every time the batsman does that, and people feel the bowler, by creating a run out is cheating, then every time a batsman taking 2 metres is cheating again. So why nobody complains about the batsman backing up? That's always been my view."
Dinesh Karthik’s reaction came after Delhi Capitals (DC) head coach Ricky Ponting recently said he will have a "hard conversation" with off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin when they meet in UAE for the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) regarding the use of 'Mankading'.
Ponting also made it clear that the team he oversees has a strict policy to not indulge in the controversial mode of dismissal.
Ashwin's act of running out Rajasthan Royals' (RR) Jos Buttler for backing up too far as captain of Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in IPL 2019 had triggered a massive uproar and did polarise opinions last year. 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.
In the end, Karthik mentioned that bowlers should not be judged for ‘Mankading’ as it is well within the law.
"And I also feel rules need to be watertight and there is no question of... it's either black or white, it's as simple as that. There should be no grey areas for people to use a loophole and find out. Spirit of cricket I feel is a massive grey area that people tend to use whenever they're not comfortable with something that they're doing," he said.
"Then they get a little too personal, they get into the player's personality, start judging people on what they've done. I think that's a bit unfair. I think the rules need to be very clear. It should be out or not out. If it's out or not out, the bowler and the fielding team have the ability to do it every time. As simple as that. If the rule applies to the bowling team, I'm sure when they start to bat the opponent can also do it. It needs to be very simple and clear."
