In the 1st ODI between India and Sri Lanka, a rather unusual incident took place when Indian captain Rohit Sharma, withdrew the appeal after Mohammed Shami mankaded Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka. Rohit later mentioned that he withdrew the appeal as he did not feel it was the correct way to get a batter out. India’s leading off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin slams Rohit Sharma’s decision to withdraw appeal after Shami mankaded Dasun Shanaka
Ashwin, champion of the dismissal, stated
“Of course, Shami’s run out. When Shanaka was on 98, Shami ran him out in the non-striker’s end, and he appealed too. Rohit withdrew that appeal. So many people tweeted about that immediately. I am going to keep repeating only one thing, guys. The game situation is immaterial. That is a legitimate form of dismissal,”
“And if you ask an lbw appeal, or a caught-behind appeal, nobody will check with the captain on whether they are sure with the appeal like a Sarath Kumar or an Amitabh Bachchan in Kaun Banega Crorepati.
Ravichandran Ashwin reignited the Mankading debate when he ran out Jos Buttler in IPL 2019. Buttler and the majority of the England cricket team had reacted strongly to the dismissal and accused Ashwin of not showing sportsmanship and even not playing within the spirit of the game.
He added,
“They will give him out if the bowler appeals and that is the end of it. See, even if one fielder appeals, it is the duty of the umpire to declare a player out if he is out,”
Men in Blue had registered a four-wicket victory in the second ODI against Sri Lanka, thus sealing the series. India has played tremendously throughout the series. Virat Kohli also scored a dazzling century (113*), bringing his 45th ton in the format.
