WATCH: Jos Buttler refuses to shake hands with Ravi Ashwin after Mankading row

Buttler refuses to shake hands with Ravi Ashwin: The Rajasthan Royals cricketers remained at loggerheads with the KXIP captain.

During the fourth match of the ongoing 12th season of the Indian Premier League between Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab at Jaipur, Kings XI Punjab captain Ravichandran Ashwin mankaded Rajasthan Royals wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler.

The dismissal ended up giving birth to widespread furore on social media platform Twitter. Despite Ashwin remaining within the rules to affect the dismissal, he was at the receiving end of severe criticism. Numerous former and current cricketers brought up the “spirit of cricket” perspective to press their case against the KXIP skipper.

Ashwin dislodging the bails was followed by both him and Buttler involved in a heated exchange. After being ruled out, the batsman was witnessed expressing his anger. Given the nature of the dismissal, it has it in it to let anyone who is not benefiting from it.

With Punjab’s bowlers defending 185 runs despite Royals formidable start, the visitors won the match by 14 runs. The post-match handshake had been proof to the sight that Buttler refused to shake hands with Ashwin in spite of all other RR players doing the same. Watch the full video below:

Ashwin is shocked Buttler didn’t shake his hands. 😂 pic.twitter.com/3UdRPSPPIi

— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) March 25, 2019

[RR Vs KXIP] Ashwin mankading – Buttler https://t.co/RMioqbrYxZ via @reddit

— Utkarsh Bhatla (@UtkarshBhatla) March 25, 2019

Ashwin opens up on mankading Buttler

On being asked about the same during the post-match presentation ceremony by Harsha Bhogle, Ashwin said that his actions were instinctive and the same has always been his take on mankading. The 32-year old cricketer also highlighted the fact that the English cricketer wasn’t even looking at him while it happened.

“No really argument to that [Mankading incident] and it’s pretty instinctive. I actually didn’t load and he left the crease. That’s always been my take on it because it’s my half of the crease. I was not even at the crease, he wasn’t even looking at me and he just left the place,” Ashwin added.

How Twitter reacted:

Huge respect for @ashwinravi99 an all time great of Indian cricket.
Which is why I felt what happened was just not cricket; there is a reason as @BishanBedi says cricket is special. today, you won the game, spirit was lost. Next time, warn the batter before Mankading! #RRvsKXIP

— Citizen/नागरिक/Dost Rajdeep (@sardesairajdeep) March 25, 2019

Law is above The Mythical Spirit of The Game. Don’t fret. Don’t frown. #Ashwin #Buttler #RRvKXIP #IPL

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 25, 2019

If you nick the ball, you should walk. That’s the Spirit of the Game. How many actually walk though??? Think 🤔 #Ashwin #Buttler #RRvKXIP #IPL

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 25, 2019

I never had a problem with bowlers running non-strikers out if they stray out of the crease before the ball is bowled; the question in this case would be if Ashwin waited for Buttler to get out of the crease

— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) March 25, 2019

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About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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