Veteran India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin recently suggested that there should be a free ball for the bowler every time a non-striker leaves the crease early and a wicket of that ball would reduce 10 runs from the opposition team's and bowlers' total.

Ashwin’s suggestion sparked a debate as a netizen argued on Ashwin's pitch to substitute mankading

The off-spinner, who had mankaded Jos Buttler in IPL 2019, pointed out that the 'mental trauma' after mankading is what stops plenty of bowlers from doing it.

Subsequently, South Africa spinner Tabraiz Shamsi entered into the discussion. He quoted Ashwin’s tweet and extended support to the practice of mankading.

“@ashwinravi99 I think all bowlers should do it without any fear.. its within the rules of the game. Why must the bowlers get abused about "spirit of cricket" when it's actually the batsmen that are stealing yards and THAT is against the spirit of cricket. That's the real truth,” Shamsi wrote.

It all erupted after former India cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar voiced his reservations against rules like leg byes and free hits.

“Free hit is a thing I want gone, again terribly unfair on the bowlers. Today with the TV umpire monitoring no balls, a bowler has to be a centimeter over and immediately a string of punishments are meted out,” Manjrekar wrote in his column for Hindustan Times.

Manjrekar later shared his opinion piece on Twitter and wrote, "Hi guys, tell me what you think about some aspects of the game mentioned in this column that have me peeved a little bit. Also, let me know what rule changes you would make to better your viewing experience."

But Ashwin, despite being a bowler, didn’t agree with Manjrekar's stance against the free hit.

“Come on @sanjaymanjrekar ,free hit is a great marketing tool and has captured the imagination of all the fans. Let’s add a free ball for the bowlers every time a batter leaves the non strikers end early, a wicket of that ball will reduce 10 runs of the bowlers analysis and total,” Ashwin tweeted.