‘Why Is It Wrong To Mankad?’: Harsha Bhogale Starts An Old Debate About Legitimacy Of Mankading | What Does The Law Say?

As a picture of Dwayne Bravo trying to ‘steal’ a run goes viral, experts question why cannot the bowler run the batsman out?

Image: Twitter/@Brad_Hogg

IPL 2021: Mankading has always been a big debate in cricket. A lot of cricket experts and players feel that ‘mankading’ is against the ethics of cricket. Cricket is considered a ‘Gentleman’s Game’ and the players are bound to follow a sort of decorum while playing the game. Recently, during Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals, Dwayne Bravo was seen a yard out of his crease when Mustafizur was bowling. This picture sparked an age-old debate about the legitimacy of mankading.

Let’s first understand what is Mankading?

‘Mankading’ comes from the name of the Indian cricketer from Mumbai, Vinoo Mankad. He had run the batsman out, standing at the bowlers’ end before he delivered the ball in 1947 in Australia. The credit for bringing this word into existence goes to the Australian media of 1947.

However, this technique of running a batsman out before the ball is bowled is not considered to be in the right ‘spirits’ by some. Commentator Harsha Bhogale had a different view of looking at Mankading. He said, “That is why I believe you’re entirely within your rights — it should almost be mandatory in team meetings — to say, ‘Run him out’. All this talk about not being in the spirit of the game is so much nonsense. He has taken a yard! I never understood how it is in the spirit of the game to run less and claim the run. That is against the spirit of the game.” He said this during the commentary of RR vs CSK. Simon Doull second the thoughts of Harsha Bhogale.

Even Brad Hogg, the ex-Australian spinner was in favor of Mankading.

Let’s see what the rule-book says:

The Laws of Cricket 41.16 states, “Non-striker leaving his/her ground early: If the non-striker is out of his/her ground from the moment the ball comes into play to the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the bowler is permitted to attempt to run him/her out. Whether the attempt is successful or not, the ball shall not count as one in the over.”

If we go by the rule-book, there’s no problem with Mankading. But how much of it is to do with “sportsmanship” in cricket?