Kings XI Punjab nabbed their first win of the IPL 2019 from the jaws of Rajasthan Royals yesterday. But at what cost? Because the only thing that’s being discussed about the match is Ravichandran Ashwin ‘Mankading‘ Jos Buttler.
A certain section of the internet was on Ashwin’s side, saying that he played according to the rules of the game. And another section was on Buttler’s side since they thought that ‘Mankading’ was against the spirit of the game. But there were some who were there to have fun.
Netizens turned the whole issue between Ravichandran Ashwin and Jos Buttler into a meme and even cracked hilarious jokes about the controversy.
To fans
Pic 1 : Ashwin before
Pic 2 : Ashwin after that run out #RRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/ZZLnUerG0N
— Pakchikpak Raja Babu (@HaramiParindey) March 25, 2019
https://twitter.com/iPrince55/status/1110232012206407680
https://twitter.com/bat__soul/status/1110232579142115328
Remember This Kid Who Was Mankaded By An English Cricketer Some Years Back… He Is Grown Up Now & Just Took His Revenge On An English Cricketer ??.. #ashwin #AshwinMankads #josbuttler #RRvKXIP #Mankading pic.twitter.com/wXrEqxnqEW
— Sanjana Sharma FB? (@sanjana_SharmaS) March 26, 2019
PADDY UPTON: "Dumbledore and Grindelwald had an intense sexual relationship"
RAVI ASHWIN: pic.twitter.com/dUMCtS9wXZ
— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) March 25, 2019
https://twitter.com/RohitSi48749761/status/1110377779617370112
@SriniMaama16 Literally what Ashwin did yesterday??. Reason found??#Ashwinmankads pic.twitter.com/0dwXK4wwav
— ????? ????? (@ManojsSekar) March 26, 2019
R Aswin trying to take an unethical wicket when the batsman is not paying attention. #RRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/DJy5kv1JH6
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) March 25, 2019
https://twitter.com/BollywoodGandu/status/1110262160255578113
https://twitter.com/sagarcasm/status/1110236647977873408
https://twitter.com/KakaManya/status/1110244118825820163
https://twitter.com/Bees_Kut/status/1110230455490478090
How Ashwin bowls ?#AshwinMankads #RRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/hG0dbPheAh
— Why So Silly® (@silly_why) March 26, 2019
Ashwin be like…#RRvKXIP #IPL2019 pic.twitter.com/FhwMMVHaip
— Dhavan kadia (@The_1_tweets) March 25, 2019
Ashwin to Joss buttler #IPL2019 #RRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/UyNS6QLZrd
— ? (@Harditch) March 25, 2019
Now, technically speaking, if there’s a rule that allows players to ‘Mankad’ the batsman, then they’ll utilise it by hook or by crook. So, if the ICC doesn’t want such controversies to arise, they should omit it from the rule book to keep the “spirit of the game” alive. Or else they should be ready to handle criticism when a bowler decides to take off the bails like Ashwin.