NEW DELHI: After the 'Mankading' method was removed from the list of unfair play in new laws approved by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) on Wednesday, former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag came out with a cheeky response.
The former India opener posted a tweet including Ravichandran Ashwin and England player Jos Buttler - the two players who were involved in an infamous incident of the 'Mankading' in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The incident involving the two players took place during the 2019 season of the IPL when Rajasthan Royals' Buttler trudged outside the bowling crease even before Ashwin, playing for King XI Punjab (now renamed Punjab Kings), delivered the ball. The off-spinner dislodged the bails in his stride and the batter was given out. Since then, the legitimacy of this mode of dismissal has been questioned under the 'spirit' of cricket'.
In his response to the amendement in the cricket laws by the MCC, Sehwag posted a hilarious tweet, tagging Ashwin.
"Congratulations @ashwinravi99, great week this one. First becoming second highest wicket-taker in Tests for India, and now this. Ab full freedom to plot such run-outs with Buttler," read Sehwag's tweet.
Interestingly, at the recently-concluded IPL 2022 Auction, Rajasthan Royals, after retaining skipper Sanju Samson, young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Buttler, secured the services of Ashwin for INR 5 crore. So Ashwin and Buttler will share the same locker room in the 2022 edition of the IPL.
Notably, the 'Mankading' dismissal involves a bowler choosing to whip off the bails when a non-striker steps out of the crease instead of completing his delivery to the batter on strike. The MCC on Wednesday said that although the wording of the law would remain the same, it would move from Law 41 (Unfair play) to Law 38 (Run out).
