Former India and Chennai Super Kings spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin spoke out over Digvesh Rathi’s effort to mankad Jitesh Sharma in the 70th and final league stage match of the IPL 2025. The seasoned spinner supported Digvesh and justified his decision to seek removal, as stated in the MCC rulebook. Ashwin requested the supporters to consider Rathi’s predicament after being chastised for his decision in front of crores of people.
While Ashwin admired Rishabh Pant’s performance and rated him as one of his favourite players, he was disappointed that the LSG captain did not support his bowler. Ashwin saw Pant’s failure to assist his bowler to be an embarrassment, and he may never pull off such a move again. He questioned why bowlers should not undertake Mankading.
“But imagine Digvesh Rathi is your son, and his captain criticises his judgement in front of crores of people. It has actually gone overboard. Because a captain’s responsibility is to support a player. It’s actually a humiliation. What occurs is that a bowler feels so little that he will never bowl again. People will come and say in the comments section that he should not do it. Why? Why shouldn’t it be done? Ashwin enquired on his YouTube channel.
‘You scare a bowler so much by doing this,’ says Ashwin on Pant’s appeal withdrawal.
Furthermore, the veteran stated that he had nothing to do with Rathi but was concerned about his confidence after Pant reversed his discharge. Ravichandran Ashwin supported Digvesh, claiming that such humiliation might be allowed to a bowler as long as no one spoke out against the decision’s retraction.
“Digvesh Rathi is not my relative or buddy. I do not know who he is. But I’m suggesting that doing this will scar a bowler so badly that it will have a lasting impact on him. But because no one cares about a bowler in front of crores of people, the appeal will be withdrawn, and he will be ridiculed in this manner,” the 38-year-old continued.
Ashwin also said that Digvesh’s attempt was ineffective under cricket rules and should have been abandoned. He believed there was no reason for the LSG skipper to rescind the call. Ashwin begged fans not to go after the bowler, claiming Rathi had made no mistakes. He requested that Rathi’s vilification for his decision be stopped.
“Let us talk about cricket for a second. According to the Laws of the Game, it went upstairs, the umpire ruled it not out, and it remains such. There is no scenario where the appeal is withdrawn. We’re not sure if this was discussed internally beforehand. But let us stop vilifying that teenager in front of millions and crores of people. Do we do this to anyone else? Why does a bowler appear small? Ashwin finished.
India
