Sunil Gavaskar asks the word ‘mankad’ to be scrapped from cricket terminology

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has pledged that the word ‘Mankad’ has to be scrapped from the terminology of cricket since it shows disrespect to the Indian legend after whom it is named.

‘Mankading’ is when a bowler runs out a batsman who has left the ground being at the non-striker’s end during the bowler’s delivery stride. Ever since the word has been used but former Indian captain wants a substitute for that word.

“I have grave objections to that because it’s putting one of India’s cricketing legends in a bad light,” Gavaskar told Sony Max. “He has been one of India’s all-time great cricketers.

He further went on to explain what exactly had happened.

“If it has to be referred by somebody’s name, it should be (named after) the non-striker. Who, despite being warned twice by Mr. Mankad, he left (his crease). And the third time was when Mankad removed the bails and so suddenly there was an uproar created.

Gavaskar suggests that the term should be “Browned” since the cricketer who was outside the crease was Bill Brown. Mankad was not at fault.

“Our legend’s name should not be spoiled. If you want to call it anything, just say the batsman was ‘Browned’, not ‘Mankaded’.”

Vinoo Mankad passed away in 1978 but is fondly remembered as one of the greatest all-rounders India ever produced. He is the lone Indian cricketer to have a Test named after him, Lord’s Test against England in 1952 is referred to as Mankad’s Test, which India eventually lost.

In 1956, he created history when he and Pankaj Roy made 413 together, and it remained a world record for 52 years.

Mankad, who is lesser known among today’s cricket loving generation, brought a lot of pride to the country, which is why Gavaskar doesn’t want names which bring any disrespect to him.