IPL 2019 | When Ravichandran Ashwin was expected to release the ball, I was inside, says Jos Butler

The 12th edition of the league opened in some controversy as Kings XI Punjab skipper Ashwin Mankaded a well-set Butler in the game in Jaipur. Butler was batting on 69 when that incident happened and Ashwin was criticised by many former and current cricketers for his actions with the Indian spinner also seeing his spirit of cricket being questioned.

Meanwhile, Butler has finally come out to talk about that incident stating it disappointing on his part to get out in that manner when he was going good in the run-chase.

"If you look at the footage, probably the wrong decision was made because at the time he was expected to release the ball I was in my crease. At the time I was really disappointed with it. I didn't like the style of it. I just thought it was a bad precedent at the start of the tournament. For the tournament itself. It was a really disappointing way to start the tournament,” Butler told ESPNCricinfo.

"So, I didn't like what happened and I didn't agree with it, but what can you do? After a day or so I was pretty relaxed about it and I'll make sure it never happens again. It won't happen again."

The English cricketer has also said that the incident made him a little conscious for the next matches while standing at the non-striker’s end.

"What was more disappointing is that suddenly, over the next two games, I found myself being really conscious of it and it is quite distracting. It is so rare that you're not normally thinking about it. I must be the only person to get out twice in that way,” the wicketkeeper said.

"It distracted me for the next couple of games which is why it was nice to get some runs in the win and get back to thinking about batting and not worrying about how I back up at the non-striker's end."

Butler, who was also Mankaded in an ODI vs Sri Lanka in 2014, said that the law has some loopholes but should stay in the MCC rule books.

“Of course a Mankading has to be in the Laws of the game because a batsman can't just run halfway down the pitch trying to get a headstart. But I do think, the way the law is written, there is a bit of a grey area in that saying 'when a bowler is expected to release the ball'. That is a bit of a wishy-washy statement," Buttler said.