Seven years have passed since the IPL 2019 moment that reignited the debate around \u201cMankading,\u201d when Ravichandran Ashwin ran Jos Buttler out at the non-striker\u2019s end during a Punjab Kings versus Rajasthan Royals game. The dismissal, widely discussed for its controversial edge, quickly turned into a tense exchange on the field and brought the larger question of cricket\u2019s spirit versus the rulebook back into focus. Buttler was given out and walked off visibly frustrated, and while time has moved on, the incident has again surfaced in conversations\u2014this time with Ashwin insisting there was nothing improper about what he did.<\/p>\n
Speaking on JioStar\u2019s The Ravichandran Ashwin Experience<\/em>, Ashwin framed the issue as a matter of the laws of the game rather than intent. \u201cIf the ICC thought this was an honesty problem, they wouldn\u2019t keep it in the rules. If you need two runs off one ball and you start running early, whose fault is it?\u201d he said. He also addressed the suggestion that the run-out was motivated purely by winning. \u201cPeople say I did it to win. Of course, I did it to win. What is there to be ashamed of?\u201d<\/p>\n Ashwin further explained how the team reacted immediately after the dismissal. \u201cAfter I ran him out, I told the team\u2026 \u2018don\u2019t worry about the reaction, I will handle the media, we just have to win.\u2019 And we won. So, there is no issue of character in this,\u201d he added, emphasizing that the focus after the moment was to secure the result.<\/p>\n Looking beyond that single flashpoint, Ashwin also reflected on his overall IPL journey. With 187 wickets from 221 matches across the years 2009 to 2025 and five different franchises, he said his time with Punjab Kings\u2014despite being a leading figure in 2018\u201319\u2014did not quite feel like his own build. \u201cWhen Punjab picked me in 2018, I knew I was moving on\u2026 I spent two years there and honestly gave it everything,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He then elaborated on how he viewed his role during that period, suggesting the structure of the squad never fully centered on him. \u201cBut I have a slight feeling that I couldn\u2019t make that team my own. At an auction, you get the chance to build your team\u2026 the team couldn\u2019t quite be built around me. I may not have achieved much as a Captain, but the learnings were immense,\u201d Ashwin explained.<\/p>\n Rajasthan Royals, however, brought a different kind of satisfaction. \u201cI spent three years there, and that stint helped me make a comeback to the Indian team. The way RR utilised me was first-class, and I enjoyed my cricket there like nowhere else,\u201d he said. While praising the environment and the way his skills were used, he reserved one personal disappointment. \u201cMy only small regret is that I couldn\u2019t win a title with RR\u2026 That was one small regret,\u201d Ashwin concluded.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Seven years have passed since the IPL 2019 moment that reignited the debate around \u201cMankading,\u201d when Ravichandran Ashwin ran Jos Buttler out at the non-striker\u2019s…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":7128,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"IPL News: Ashwin Mankading Row vs Jos Buttler Clash","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Ashwin\u2019s old Mankading standoff with Jos Buttler is back in focus after IPL debate reignites\u2014was it fair play or against cricket\u2019s spirit?","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n