IPL 2026 | 'What is there to be ashamed of?' Ashwin brings back Jos Buttler 'Mankading' row
Seven years after the controversial 'Mankading' incident with Jos Buttler, Ravichandran Ashwin defends his actions, stating he did nothing wrong and played to win. He also reflected on his IPL career, expressing regret over not winning a title with Rajasthan Royals despite a fulfilling stint.
NEW DELHI: It has been seven years since the controversial ‘Mankading’ run-out incident involving Ravichandran Ashwin and Jos Buttler during an IPL 2019 match between Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals. Ashwin, then playing for Punjab, ran Buttler out at the non-striker’s end, sparking heated exchanges between the players and reigniting the spirit-of-cricket debate. Buttler was given out and left the field visibly upset.
Seven years on, the incident has once again come up for discussion, with Ashwin maintaining that he did nothing wrong. “If the ICC felt this was an honesty problem, they wouldn’t keep it in the rules. If you need two runs off one ball and you start running early, whose fault is it?
," Ashwin said on JioStar’s The Ravichandran Ashwin Experience. “People say I did it to win. Of course, I did it to win.
What is there to be ashamed of? “After I ran him out, I told the team... ‘don’t worry about the reaction, I will handle the media, we just have to win.