There have been many controversies associated with the Indian Premier League (IPL) and in almost every season, we get to see something controversial taking place. However, the former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting who is now employed as the head coach of the IPL team Delhi Capitals (DC) has started a controversy even before beginning of the IPL 2020.
While giving an interview on The Grade Cricketer Podcast, the former skipper talked about the mankading carried out by Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the IPL 2019 and said that he will not let such things happen in Delhi Capitals. Ricky said that the first thing he will be doing is to talk to Ashwin about mankading, adding that Ashwin was not in DC last year and he is one of those players whom they have bought this time.
According to Ricky Ponting, the Indian spinner is a good bowler and what makes him stand apart from others is the fact that he has been performing great for a long period now. Ricky stated that last year when Ashwin mankaded Jos Buttler, he talked to the players of DC and made it clear to them that he may have done it and there may be many others who will like to do it but this is not the way DC players will be playing cricket.
The former Australian skipper said that it will be a hard conversation with Ashwin but Ponting is sure that Ashwin will take it in a good spirit. Ricky Ponting also said that most probably Ashwin would also have been thinking now that whatever he did was within the rules of cricket but was against the spirit of the game.
In the IPL 2019, Ashwin was captaining Kings XI Punjab and in one of the matches against Rajasthan Royals, he mankaded Jos Buttler. While he was slammed by many for his act, he was pretty adamant that what he did was within the rules of the game and he would be doing it once again if he gets a chance in the future.
Mankading takes place when the bowler removes the bails before throwing the ball if the batman on the non-striker end is out of the crease.
Ricky Ponting’s statement has not gone well with many cricket lovers as he was one of the fiercest competitors and there have been times when he committed acts which were against the spirit of the game, especially the one in which he tried to influence the on-field umpire for giving the batsman out. This is how Twitter reacted over it:
#1
Batsman leaving the crease before the ball is delivered, when they know they're getting an advantage, is that in the spirit of the game!#cricket #IPL2020 https://t.co/seSB4fv89z
— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) August 20, 2020
#2
He was the fiercest competitor of his time. He is also without a doubt one of the best pundits going around, not to mention my favorite ever non-Indian batsman. BUT for Ricky Ponting, of all people, to preach about the ‘spirit of the game’… https://t.co/zkVapm8edW
— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) August 19, 2020
#3
Ponting talks about 'Spirit of Cricket' asks Ashwin to not 'mankad'
Ashwin: pic.twitter.com/9S5z2jllh9
— Rahul (@Rahulismm) August 19, 2020
#4
Others australian player after seeing Ponting talking about spirit of cricket https://t.co/0kM66Plksn pic.twitter.com/4DBYgEZyAj
— Rohan Singh (@Singhjeeee) August 19, 2020
#5
Ponting teaching 'Spirit of Cricket' is like RCB teaching 'How to win IPL'.
— A. 🇵🇸 (@abhay3_) August 19, 2020
#6
A cricket coach is going to ask his senior player not to follow a law of the game. And sanctimonious cricket pundits are going to celebrate it. What a Shame.
Ponting bhai, aap coaching karo na yaar. Let players make their choices on the ground as per rules of the game. https://t.co/AyBvpiTfku
— cricBC (@cricBC) August 19, 2020
#7
https://twitter.com/iamsagarcastic/status/1296091161195552771
#8
https://twitter.com/beingabzkhan/status/1296075057979064321
#9
Very glad to see that 12 years after Sydney the coach of the Capitals is saying he wants his team to play the game in the “spirit of the game”. @g_rajaraman @sunandanlele Hindi saying “देर आए दुरुस्त आए”. pic.twitter.com/NnO438z5RO
— PRAKASH WAKANKAR (@pakwakankar) August 19, 2020
#10
The message to Delhi's opponents is clear – stand as far out of your crease as you want. Any non-striker who doesn't leave the crease early against them is as much of an idiot as Ponting. https://t.co/k79cqENs9w
— Andrew Nixon (@andrewnixon79@mastodon.world) (@andrewnixon79) August 19, 2020
#11
Good morning to everybody except Ricky Ponting.
— Manya (@CSKian716) August 20, 2020
#12
Imagine the environment around a Franchise when the Head Coach openly warns a Star Player for something he has always stood for.
ABSOLUTE NONSENSE BY PONTING. #Cricket
— Vivek (@_Vivek_50) August 19, 2020
#13
Ponting discussing Spirit of game! #IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/s7KFZumm9f
— mon (@4sacinom) August 19, 2020
#14
https://twitter.com/GappistanRadio/status/1296075804489719808
#15
https://twitter.com/Joker122018/status/1296041723269808129
The tournament is going to take place in UAE from September 19 and the finals will be played on Nov 10. It is not being held in India as the situation of the coronavirus pandemic is far from satisfactory in the country.
Do let us know your take on this statement of Ricky Ponting.