When Ashwin shocked Buttler with mankad dismissal [Source: @IPL/X.com]
One of the most unforgettable IPL moments came in 2019 when Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Jos Buttler through a controversial “Mankad”. The whole incident left the Englishman fuming and put Ashwin in a grossly bad light.
The incident took place on March 25, 2019, during a match between Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) and Rajasthan Royals. Rajasthan was chasing 185, and their star opener Jos Buttler was in full flow, scoring freely.
Ashwin’s Mankad Of Jos Buttler Still Haunts IPL Fans Years Later
Just when the Rajasthan Royals looked in control, Ravichandran Ashwin, who was captaining Punjab, noticed Jos Buttler backing up too far at the non-striker’s end.
Instead of delivering the ball, Ashwin stopped in his stride, turned back, and whipped off the bails. The third umpire confirmed Buttler was out of his crease, declaring him run out (popularly known as mankad dismissal).
The dismissal was perfectly legal according to the rules, but it sparked a storm of debate about the “spirit of cricket”. Buttler was visibly upset, exchanging heated words with Ashwin as he walked back to the pavilion.
Interestingly, the wicket changed the course of the match completely. Rajasthan, who were cruising, stumbled badly and eventually fell short by 14 runs, finishing at 170/9. While Punjab celebrated their win, the cricketing world was divided; some praised Ashwin for sticking to the rulebook, while others criticised him for ignoring fair play.
Interestingly, three years later, the same Ashwin and Buttler ended up playing together for the Rajasthan Royals after the 2022 mega auction. Of course, by then, both players had buried the hatchet.