ENG vs IND: Deepti Sharma’s Mankad wicket of Charlie Dean raised eyebrows at the third game ODI game of India vs England. While the player was supported by the Indian captain, stating it was a law of cricket and nothing special to be criticised, the English captain, is not ready to take the situation lightly.
Heather Knight has accused the bowler of lying. Knight said, “India were deserved winners. But no warnings were given. They don’t need to be given, so it hasn’t made the dismissal any less legitimate. But if they’re comfortable with the decision to affect the run out, India shouldn’t feel the need to justify it by lying about warnings.”
The situation in which Dean was dismissed was highly opportune for England. They were playing at 115-9 and Dean was set at 47 runs. The batter would’ve potentially led the team to a victory but was dismissed on time by Deepti Sharma at the non-striker’s end. The audience did not receive this well and booed the Indian players for their uncompetitive spirits. The umpires on the other hand upheld the Mankad and declared the batter out.
India was able to seal the series but at what cost! “The game is over. Charlie was dismissed legitimately. India were deserved winners of the match and the series. But no warnings were given,” Knight tweeted. “They don’t need to be given, so it hasn’t made the dismissal any less legitimate. But if they’re comfortable with the decision to affect the run out, India shouldn’t feel the need to justify it by lying about warnings.”
1/2 The game is over, Charlie was dismissed legitimately. India were deserved winners of the match and the series. But no warnings were given. They don’t need to be given, so it hasn’t made the dismissal any less legitimate… https://t.co/TOTdJ3HgJe
— Heather Knight (@Heatherknight55) September 26, 2022
2/2 But if they’re comfortable with the decision to affect the run out, India shouldn’t feel the need to justify it by lying about warnings 🤷🏼♀️ https://t.co/TOTdJ3HgJe
— Heather Knight (@Heatherknight55) September 26, 2022
ALSO READ: At The Center Of The Storm: Deepti Sharma Debunk The Myth That Is ‘Spirit of the Game’ At The Lords
Deepti Sharma had stated at the interview that, “It was a plan, because we had warned her [for leaving the crease early] repeatedly. We did things as per the rules and guidelines. We told the umpires as well, but she was there [outside the crease]. We couldn’t do much.”
.@Deepti_Sharma06 opens up on the Charlotte Dean run out, says @BCCIWomen had already warned her!@ThumsUpOfficial
#DeeptiSharma #Runout pic.twitter.com/3YwWwvZ1e4— RevSportz (@RevSportz) September 26, 2022
Charles Dagnall also spoke about the situation and upheld Deepti’s decision. He said, “There’s a lot that’s gone on. This should not be a story. This should be dead in the water, and the story was kind of ending towards the backend of yesterday. No laws were broken, absolutely not, Deepti is well within her rights not to warn Charlie Dean and run her out at the non-striker’s end and that is a completely legitimate dismissal. Nothing was done wrong. It’s obviously a rare occurrence. I can remember four ‘Mankad’ incidents in the professional era,” he further added.
While ex-players like Lydia Greenway supported the English Captain’s stance and stated that “Heather Knight wasn’t playing in that game, but she’s England captain and if she feels that something has been said that doesn’t match up with what’s happened, then she will say it and she will defend her players fiercely.”
Michael Atherton also shared his views stating that Deepti’s stance was fair and required for the Indian squad to win the crucial game. He said, “I always find it odd when ‘Mankads’ happen. It’s historically associated with something underhand, but whenever it happens, the focus always falls on the fielding side and the bowler as if they’ve done something wrong. A ‘Mankad’ cannot happen if the non-striker stays in their ground. And that’s where the onus falls.”
“And there’s no question Deepti Sharma was looking for the opportunity. But Charlie Dean gave her the opportunity by being out of her grounds,” he further added.
Whatever the debate might be about, Mankad is a rule set by the ICC and normalising it at the cost of the non-striking batter staying within the line is the only solution, it seems.
