R Ashwin defended Mankading Jos Buttler during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 clash between Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals on March 25.
Speaking to India Today, the India off-spinner said he is not worried one bit about the criticism that has come his way following the Mankading that became one of the major talking points of IPL 2019.
Ashwin employed the controversial mode of dismissal to run Jos Buttler out during a tense chase in Jaipur. Following Buttler's wicket, Rajasthan collapse and handed Kings XI Punjab their first points of IPL 2019.
Ashwin faced a lot of backlash as English cricketers (former and current) raised the Spirit of Cricket issue while several other experts defended Ashwin's Mankad act.
"I think whatever I say is going to raise a few eyebrows. I am sure there have been debates about how far he was down the ground. But I believe Rs 1 is still a theft. Whatever, it is, I have to control my space. I still believe I was right in doing what I did. For me, everything is about my conscience. My conscience is very clear after what I did. There have been a few people speaking about this over and over again," Ashwin said.
He added: "True (not in the spirit of the game). If you look at it that way, people have nicked the ball and have actually debated about taking a DRS. There is no question of deliberating a DRS there. Sometimes, you make a strategic DRS decision as well when it comes to crucial batsmen. That all can be invoked as spirit of game debate.
"I believe that if you are going to talk about spirit of the game again and again then it's up to the authorities to decide if it's in the rules of the game or not. It's absolutely nothing. I have to inform which side of the wicket I am bowling from, I have bowl from behind the crease.
"The line belongs to the umpire, the line sometimes belongs to the batsman. He can stand right-handed and hit me left-handed. he can make a switch hit. And he can actually walk down the pitch and hit me too. I think the spirit of the game is evoked when it comes to the bowlers' psyche.
"You can debate about it. It's up to the people's perception what they believe it is. But to me, like I said, it's all about conscience. Before some 10 years, there was rule wherein you warn somebody and then do it. Look that was a 50-over game, this is a 20-over game. Maybe the warning space is also lesser.
"See, there have been even debates about whether I waited for him to leave the crease. But what people don't understand is I hadn't even reached the crease when he started walking away. Once I complete my action, I can't go down and hit the stumps. I will have to wait and then only flip the stumps. It makes no sense to me. There will be no end to this. People will keep giving their opinions."
