IPL 2020: No hard feelings between Ponting and R Ashwin – Delhi Capitals CEO

IPL 2020: No hard feelings between Ponting and R Ashwin – Delhi Capitals CEO

Ricky Ponting

Ashwin Makading
R Ashwin had mankaded Rajasthan Royal’s batsman Jos Buttler at the Sawai Mansingh stadium in Jaipur.

Delhi Capitals (DC) CEO Dhiraj Malhotra has said that there is no “hard feelings” between R Ashwin and Ricky Ponting. According to him, Ponting’s comments were taken “out of context”.

Ponting had given a statement where he said he won’t allow any of his players to mankad in the upcoming season of the IPL. Later, he changed his stance and said that Ashwin is within the rules of the game.

Related:IPL2020: Ricky Ponting ‘on the same page’ with Ashwin on Mankading

“It was totally taken out of context. Ponting was having a banter with his friends back home, it was not how it was portrayed,” Malhotra was quoted by Khaleej Times as saying.

“Both are very serious cricketers and top personalities. They had already spoken about it in a chat show. They had a very good conversation about it. It is important that they have cleared the air. There are no hard feelings at all”, he added.

Ponting agrees with Ashwin over Mankading

Ricky Ponting
DC Coach Ricky Ponting

The cricket community was divided when the incident took place in last year’s IPL when Ashwin dismissed Jos Butler when he was trying to get the extra yards at the non- strikers end.

Ponting tried to explain the debate about Mankading he had with Ashwin. He spoke to cricket.com.au and said that he would still want Ashwin to caution the batsman as it would be against the spirit of the game.

“He (Ashwin) made me get on a podcast with him when I first arrived here to have a good open chat about it. I think we’re both on the same page. He feels he did everything in the rules and laws of the game and he’s absolutely right.

“He’s saying, ‘What if it’s the last ball of the IPL, what if I’m bowling and the batting teams needs two runs to win and the non-striker is charging halfway down the wicket? What do you expect me to do’?”, Ponting said to cricket.com.au.

Ponting has agreed with Ashwin on Mankading but wants to warn the batsman before executing it. It will be interesting to see if any such incidents happen on the field in IPL 2020 this year.

Also Read:IPL 2020: Dawid Malan as Suresh Raina’s replacement? CSK CEO puts end to rumors