IPL 2019 | In my opinion, R Ashwin is still the best Indian spinner, says Erapalli Prasanna

IPL 2019 | In my opinion, R Ashwin is still the best Indian spinner, says Erapalli Prasanna

SportsCafe Desk

By SportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

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Former India spinner Erapalli Prasanna has leaped to the defence of under-fire Kings XI Punjab skipper Ravichandran Ashwin after his actions during the recent win against Rajasthan Royals. Ashwin has been criticised for breaching the ‘spirit of cricket’ after he ‘mankaded’ Royals' Jos Butler.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s dismissal of Jos Butler during their opening fixture at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium may go down in statistics as ‘run-out’ but the world, especially Rajasthan Royals supporters, will remember it as ‘mankading’. Ashwin ran out Rajasthan Royals opener, who was at the non-striker’s end, while he was in the process of bowling his delivery during the match in Jaipur on Monday. TV replays showed that the veteran off-spinner had waited for Buttler to move out of the crease before whipping off the bails.

While many critics and experts have come out with scathing reviews aimed at Ashwin, former India spinner Erapalli Prasanna recently spoke in favour of the under-fire player.

“In my opinion, he is still the best Indian spinner at the moment. Whatever he did it was well within the rules of the game.

“It’s not a question of whether he’s a best bowler or a best batsman. Jos Buttler is supposed to be a star player, but can he do this unfair running before the ball is delivered? Non-striker is not expected to leave the crease and take undue advantage of making the 22 yards into 20 yards before the ball is delivered,” the 78-year-old former spinner told PTI from Bengaluru.

The English batsman was going strong at 69 off 43 balls and Rajasthan were on course of a victory at 108-1 while chasing 185. Butler’s dismissal proved to be a game-changer and Kings XI eventually won the match by 14 runs. 

“So many things have happened in the past. You have seen the ball tampering and all. They don’t remember all these after some time. Time is the great healer. Everyone will forget (after sometime). It’s definitely fair but I do not know why he’s saying he did it instinctively. Maybe he’s feeling guilty and lying to cover it up,” added the former India off-spinner.

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