'Shades of Ravi Ashwin' - Deepak Chahar leaves Twitter buzzing with an attempt to run non-striker out

India are up against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club for the third and final match of the ODI series on the 22nd of August. After setting the hosts a target of 290 runs, a moment of slight controversy took centre stage in the second innings when Deepak Chahar supposedly refrained from running out the non-striker, the Zimbabwe opening batter Innocent Kaia for backing up too far.

The incident occurred when India’s star opening bowler Deepak Chahar flicked the bails off post his run-up as Innocent Kaia had meandered out of the crease before the ball was delivered. Although the returning Indian pacer disturbed the bails, did not appeal to the umpire for a possible run-out. The netizens took notice of the incident and were quick to draw parallels from veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

Notably, Ravi Ashwin was much maligned for his involvement in two such incidents, once against Sri Lanka in 2012 and again in 2019 after running out Jos Buttler in an IPL game. The cricketing fraternity has been largely divided on the topic with some deeming it against the spirit of the game.

Earlier this year, the MCC stated their stance on the controversial rule saying, “The bowler is always painted as the villain but it is a legitimate way to dismiss someone and it is the non-striker who is stealing the ground. It is legitimate, it is a run-out and therefore it should live in the run-out section of the laws.”

Shubhman Gill’s maiden international ton powers India to 289

KL Rahul, the stand-in Indian skipper, won the toss for the third consecutive time in the series but decided to have a bat this time, unlike the previous two occasions where he chose to bowl first. India posted a competitive total of 289 runs on the board in their fifty overs after a sedated start from the Indian openers, Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan.

But it was the 140 runs stand between Ishan Kishan and Shubhman Gill for the third wicket that propelled the Indian innings with the latter registering a magnificent maiden century for the Indian team. However, Chahar’s attempt to run-out the non-striker left Twitter buzzing as many came up with funny tweets involving Ravi Ashwin.

Here are some of the tweets:

Deepak Chahar didn't Appeal on Mankad 😂 pic.twitter.com/4ihfnljbMl

— Keshav Bhardwaj 👀 (@keshxv1999) August 22, 2022

Interesting start with Deepak Chahar attempting to run the non-striker out straightaway. Maybe he let it go since Kaia was Innocent. #ZIMvIND

— ArnavTalksCricket🏏 (@Arnav_VK18) August 22, 2022

Deepak Chahar 🙂

Now it will start. Of course, it is an individual's choice.

— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) August 22, 2022

Ashwin would be very disappointed in Deepak Chahar today.#ZIMvIND

— Akash Kumar Jha (@Akashkumarjha14) August 22, 2022

Well done Deepak Chahar. Didn't appeal but at least tried for Mankad 😸 #ZIMvIND #INDvZIM pic.twitter.com/3Z8zMwZFu9

— Abhijeet ♞ (@TheYorkerBall) August 22, 2022

Shades of Ashwin in Deepak Chahar. Kaia was almost Mankad had he appealed.

— Gagan Thakur (@gagan_gt) August 22, 2022

Deepak chahar did comedy there..#INDvsZIM

— varun sharma… (@VarunRa78195768) August 22, 2022