Deepti Sharma's run-out of Charlie Dean in the third ODI between India and England at Lord’s created quite a stir across the cricketing world last month.
The India all-rounder had run out Dean in the 44th over for backing up too far at the non-striker's end when England were on 153/9 while chasing the target of 170.
For her antics, Deepti received support from many while the English cricket fraternity slammed her citing the ‘Spirit of Cricket’ argument even though this form of dismissal has been legalized by the ICC.
Almost a month after the incident, former India head coach Ravi Shastri shared his two cents on it, saying that he sees nothing wrong in the practice.
In fact, Shastri went on to add that if he was the coach, he would instruct his players to knock the bails off without any hesitation.
"My thoughts are very clear. It's a law. A batsman has no business to be wandering out of his crease before the ball is bowled. And the law in cricket says that if you are doing that, the bowler is perfectly entitled to take the bails off. I know that the rule of 'Mankad' or 'Mankading' was there was a long time and a lot of players are still trying to come to terms with that new law, whether they should be taking off the bails but as a coach, I would tell my players 'Just go out and do it. It's a law. You're not cheating, you're not doing anything that is not part of the game. Batsman should know his business," Shastri said in an interview with Fox Sports.
Known for his outspoken nature, Shastri instead blamed the batters, stating that walking out of the crease before the ball is being bowled falls in the category of cheating.
"There is an outrage but it's because that law did not exist earlier. But my argument is that even if it had existed, I don't believe this practice when you warn the player the first time and the second time you can do it. It's like me telling a fielder, 'You've dropped me once. Second time you can catch it'. If it's a law that says it is cheating. It is cheating because if you're going out of crease, you are trying to steal an advantage over the opposition and the bowler. So you jolly well, hold your ground," he added.
When asked whether the world of cricket will see more such run-out in the future, Shastri said: "With one run to win, and one ball to go, if the non-striker is out of his ground, you think any bowler is not going to take off those bails? He will, rest assured."
