Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting had invited trouble when he said that he wouldn’t allow R Ashwin, who will play for DC in the upcoming IPL 2020, to mankad anyone under his watch. Ashwin famously ran out non-striker Jos Buttler in IPL 2019, causing a lot of controversies.
However, Ponting believes a non-striker stealing yards before the bowler has released the ball is cheating, but he still doesn't think running the batsman out is the ideal way to keep him in the crease.
During a chat on R Ashwin’s YouTube channel, Ponting suggested a run penalty on the batsman stealing yards.
"I think there should be some sort of a run penalty. If you are to get to the top of your bowling action and stop, and it shows that the batsman is cheating and is out of his crease, I think put a run penalty on them. And do it right from the start, because that will stop him right away. Imagine taking 10 runs off a team total because you have taken yards… those sorts of things need to be looked at,” Ponting said.
The two also had a discussion on Ashwin’s stand on mankading and why Ponting opposes that, despite it being in the laws.
“Yeah, I totally get where you are coming from. I wasn't trying to say that you were [not] justified because it is actually in the laws of the game. You can do it. So if a batsman is cheating, and trying to steal a couple of yards,” Ponting said to Ashwin.
"I just think that we have got to find a way around. Trying to stop the batsman cheating. We have had this conversation already. I don't want to see anyone running two or three yards down the wicket. Because that basically is cheating,” Ponting added.
Ashwin revealed that he was 12 years old when he mankaded someone.
"Because I couldn't stand the batsmen taking those extra yards. I feel it is a massive advantage. And the moment I did that, the spirit of cricket was brought into play," Ashwin said.
It, however, remains unclear if Ponting has said and done enough to deter Ashwin from running someone out in the said fashion this year.
