Ravichandran Ashwin defends non-striker run-out, urges bowlers to back rule

Former Ravichandran Ashwin spoke about running out Jos Buttler at the non-striker’s end, stating that the criticism and questions around his character only made him more inclined to do it again, while adding that other bowlers should not hesitate to attempt it as well.

The incident took place during a 2019 clash between Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals, when Ashwin, representing the Punjab-based side, ran Buttler out for backing up too far before delivering the ball. The dismissal sparked widespread debate around the spirit of the game and fair play, drawing mixed reactions from the cricketing fraternity.

"A lot of people talk about character, say this is wrong, or that the player is wrong. After hearing all that, I felt like doing it even more, not to prove a point to people. There was a moment when I was captain against Mumbai, and they needed two runs. I was at extra cover and told the bowler to run the batter out at the non-striker's end. The batter ran, but the bowler refused because people say it's wrong. If the ICC felt this was an honesty problem, they wouldn't keep it in the rules," Ashwin said on the JioStar show ‘The Ravichandran Ashwin Experience’.

"If you need two runs off one ball and you start running early, whose fault is it? People say Jos Buttler didn't try to run, but that's not my problem. People also 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 called the team and said, 'This will look different to them, they will lose, don't worry about the reaction, I will handle the media, we just have to win.' And we won. So, there is no issue of character in this," he added.

The former spinner, who also shared the dressing room with Buttler at RR, added that many bowlers hesitate to attempt such dismissals due to fear of public backlash, despite it being within the laws of the game.

"Other bowlers should also do it. Why don't they? Because of the first thought that comes to mind: 'What will people say?' It has become a kind of societal pressure, whether it is right or wrong. This started with umpires asking captains if they wanted to withdraw the appeal. If you withdraw, you are seen as 'good', which is also wrong, because you let your bowler down in front of everyone,” said Ashwin.

"This decision should belong to the bowler, and giving it out or not is the umpire's job. Why make a rule so complex? Like LBW, this is also out. Many cricketers tweeted that this is bad. My answer is simple: I didn't steal, I didn't do anything wrong, I played within the laws. Those who talk like this-I could file a case against them in court. What they are doing is character assassination. I am very proud of it, I will continue to be, and whoever does it, I will praise them even more," he concluded.