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XtraTime Web Desk: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Dinesh Karthik has defended Ravichandran Ashwin for ‘mankading’ Jos Buttler in an Indian Premier League (IPL 2019) match last season. The India wicket-kepeer batsman went a step further and said he finds it extremely unfair that the legendary Vinoo Mankad's name is used in a negative manner for a dismissal which is absolutely legal.

During the 1948 India’s tour to Australia, Vinoo Mankad ran opposition batsman Bill Brown out at the non-striker's end after he backed up too far despite repeated warnings. The Australian media outraged over it and called it "Mankading" even though Sir Don Bradman found the dismissal to be perfectly legal.

In an interview to Cricketnext, Karthik said, "There are two issues I have with this 'Mankad' run out. First is the implementation of it. Second is the name 'Mankad' run out."

Both the ICC and MCC has made it clear that it is completely within the rules of the game. So Karthik don't see the reason why bowlers or any team that does it is looked at in a negative way. "The person who did it first time was Vinoo Mankad. Interestingly, he was alert enough to do that dismissal. But more importantly, nobody remembers the batsman who got run out. It was Bill Brown," he pointed out. Karthik's comments have significance because of Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting's recent comments that he would have a chat with Ravichandran Ashwin and advise him that the dismissal is against the 'Spirit of the Game' referring to the India spinner running out of Jos Buttler during the last edition.

Karthik also suggested that the TV umpire should be called in to check whether the batsman is backing up too far and if so then that particular run should be disallowed. "If this is done just like a run out consistently, then obviously the batsmen will be even more careful and stop doing it.

Courtesy: PTI