IPL 2020: Sanjay Manjrekar agrees 100 percent with Dinesh Karthik’s views on ‘negative’ connotation of Mankad

Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar shared his views on Mankading, urging the cricket fraternity to start looking at batsmen who leave the crease before the ball is bowled in a ‘negative way’. Manjrekar was responding to Dinesh Karthik’s take on the controversial issue which has once again come to the limelight in the lead up to Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.

Sanjay Manjrekar said he agrees ‘100 percent’ with Dinesh Karthik’s views on Mankading, backing the Kolkata Knight Riders captain who said the negative ‘connotation’ of Mankad should cease to exist.

The discussion around Mankad has cropped up again after Delhi Capitals head coach and former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said he would advise his players, including R Ashwin, to not Mankad batsmen in IPL 2020 and that Mankading is against the Spirit of Cricket. Ashwin created a stir in IPL 2019 when he Mankaded Jos Buttler while playing for Kings XI Punjab.

Dinesh Karthik said the option of running a batsman out at the non-striker’s end before the ball is delivered is within the rules of the game and that he didn’t understand why the term ‘Mankad’s is being used in a negative way. Karthik said the negative bowlers and captains are scared of Mankading because of the negativity associated with the mode of dismissal.

Karthik said India great Vinoo Mankad, after whom the mode of dismissal is named’, should be remembered for his greatness on the field and argued why Bill Brown, who was run out by Mankad, is not being associated with the form of dismissal.

Taking to social media, Sanjay Manjrekar wrote: “Agree 100%. Also, let’s start a trend of looking at batsmen leaving the crease before ball is released in a negative way.”

‘Captains are teams are scared’

Karthik, speaking to CricketNext, had said that if Mankading takes place often, batsmen will be more careful and stop leaving the crease before the ball is delivered.

“If this is done just like a run out consistently, then obviously the batsmen will be even more careful and stop doing it. But because it is not encouraged and looked at in a negative way, and people are doubted morally, the bowlers, the captains and the teams are scared of doing it more for the repercussions that anything else,” Karthik said.

“But if it is legal means to get a player out and ICC is completely in sync with it and MCC have said for the longest time that it is right to do it, then why is it that it’s not accepted as a mode of dismissal? In what way is it different to a run out?”

Meanwhile, R Ashwin took to social media on Monday to respond to Dinesh Karthik’s views. The Delhi Capitals off-spinner said a ‘free ball’ should be given to the bowling team every time a batsman leaves the crease before the ball is delivered.

“Make it a free ball for the bowler. If the batsman gets out of that ball, the batting team will be docked 5 runs. Free hit adds to the drama for a batter, let’s give a chance to the bowlers too. As of now everyone watches the game hoping that ‘the bowlers will get smacked today,” Ashwin tweeted.