Was Ravichandran Ashwin right in running Jos Buttler out the way he did? Opinion on it is divided. Rahul Dravid for one, feels the 'Mankaded' dismissal was well within the laws. However, the former India captain admits he would have done it differently. "Personally I would have given the batsman a warning," he told TOI during an interaction here on Tuesday.
How do you look at Ashwin's dismissal of Buttler?
It's within the laws of the game and that's pretty clear. So I don't have a problem with someone deciding to do it. Ashwin was well within his rights to do what he did. However, personally I would prefer it if somebody warns someone first. That would be my personal choice, but I respect someone's view to think differently. I might not agree with it necessarily, but I would just have to agree to disagree whether someone should run someone out without warning him.
Do you think Ashwin lost some of his gentleman image?
I think some of the reactions were overblown. Questioning Ashwin's character because he did that is totally wrong. He has every right to his view. You might not agree with it, but it was well within his rights to do it and that does not make him a bad person. Like I said, I would rather he had warned first, but if he chose not to do it, then that's his interpretation and you can't have issue with that. It is not about being a gentleman or a non-gentleman. This is not a judgement on his character, but his reading of the law. He has not cheated anybody, nor is he a bad person because he did that.
AFP
Later Ashwin hinted he doesn't really care about sporting spirit...
The interpretation of sportsman spirit is different for different people and I don't think we need to go into that. You can decide in how you want to be. It's a player's personal choice. The toughest thing for Ashwin and his coach in Kings XI is that an issue like sometimes polarizes opinion. Among the players and support staff, there might be some who feel he could have done things differently and that becomes difficult for the captain and coach going forward.
As coach, how would you look at it?
When I coach teams, I suggest and I use the word suggest, to players that if they feel someone is trying to get undue advantage, then please warn him and if he continues to do that, you can maybe do that (Mankaded). But then people don't have to agree with me. There is nothing in the laws that say you have to warn. He (Ashwin) has read the law in a particular way. You can agree to disagree with him, but you cannot question his character, this is wrong.
AFP
Do you agree with the controversial 'Mankaded' law?
I don't see any other way. Tomorrow if you don't have the law, you can have somebody standing five feet outside the crease. So how do you make sure that someone doesn't take advantage? The law is there for a reason and how you choose to use it is a tricky one.
Buttler has been 'Mankaded' earlier, so shouldn't he have been more careful?
Look, I didn't watch the game so I can't really comment on that. I don't want to get into it.
Talking about World Cup, should MS Dhoni or Risabh Pant play?
As a coach of the India U-19 team, I should not be commenting on who should be included. Everyone is same for me. All I will say is that Dhoni has incredible experience and he has been playing very well in the past few months. Rishabh is definitely an exciting young player and he has got the talent. If the selectors feel, two wicketkeepers can play. The best 15 should be in the team.
Who is your ideal No. 4?
Like I said, I cannot be commenting on that. I am coaching 10 boys and all of them are fighting for a place in that squad. I cannot publicly pick one particular player.
Do you think IPL is overloading the players? Jasprit Bumrah got injured...
In IPL, bowlers have to bowl just four overs. There cannot be overloading. Moreover, the players know best when they should be playing. You cannot force someone to play if he feels he cannot.