R Ashwin will be remembered as much as anything for his undignified Mankad of Jos Buttler

SIMON HUGHES IN JAIPUR: Ashwin duped him. If you look at the replay, he actually had no intention of letting go of that ball. His action was different. It was devious. He also waited so long to remove the bails - almost baiting Buttler

Whether it's right or wrong, 'Mankading' a batman always causes a major stir and the incident in Rajasthan Royals' game against Kings XI Punjab on Monday night is still inciting comment.

Jos Buttler was batting majestically in the Royals' pursuit of Kings XI's 184. They were 108 for 2 in the 13th over when R Ashwin moved in to to bowl but didn’t release the ball as Buttler strolled routinely out of his ground, as all good non-strikers should.

As Buttler looked down the other end expecting to see his partner play the ball, Ashwin waited momentarily by the stumps, then whipped off the bails. It seemed to happen almost in slow motion.  

I was in the crowd in Jaipur and there was a tangible sense of shock at the incident as it dawned on the 22,000 spectators what had happened, before outrage took hold.

Buttler himself could hardly believe what had happened and seemed to half-expect Ashwin to withdraw his appeal. He remained unrepentant and Buttler had to make his way off. The incident left a sour taste, especially as the Royals went on to lose the match. It was the deciding moment. 

^{R Ashwin's Mankad of Jos Buttler has been the talk of the cricketing world}

Impressively the Royals behaved with dignity and pride and each player shook Ashwin’s hand - some more reluctantly than others - at the end of the match. Their actions seemed to say ‘we’re not stooping to that level.’ In the aftermath, some of Kings XI's own fans have turned against their captain on the franchise's Facebook page.

Although Ashwin was within the Laws of the game in what he did, it was an unnecessary and frankly undignified act. Buttler was not seeking an unfair advantage by haring up the pitch as the bowler released. He hadn’t left his crease as Ashwin was in the last throes of the delivery. 

His momentum took him out of the crease only as Ashwin ‘bowled.’  Ashwin duped him. If you look at the replay, he actually had no intention of letting go of that ball. His action was different. It was devious. He also waited so long to remove the bails - almost baiting Buttler - that it could have been signalled a dead ball.

It was all down to the umpire’s interpretation. Third umpire Bruce Oxenford elected to give him out.  

NOW READ: Ashwin says Mankad was "within the rules of the game"

Buttler was a little dozy to allow it to happen but it marred an exciting match and in truth a fine display by Ashwin who, bowling exclusively carrom balls with superb control, conceded only 20 runs from his four overs. In spite of all his superb achievements, Ashwin’s career will be remembered as much for this moment as any other. It will come back to haunt him. 

The Rajasthan players, though annoyed by Ashwin, suggested they were not surprised at the behaviour of someone whose behaviour often seems to be at odds with the so called ‘spirit of the game.’

When I suggested to some that the best way to retaliate might be to do the same thing back to Ashwin, they were adamant to a man that they would not indulge in such unsatisfying ways of taking wickets.

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