New Delhi: Indian women's cricket team defeated England women's cricket team in the final match of the ODI series at Lord's to register a record-shattering 3-0 win and a series whitewash over the hosts. IND vs ENG ODI at Lord's became talk of the town as it was legendary Indian bowler Jhulan Goswami's farewell match. However, one incident that in a way overshadowed Jhulan's retirement and India's historic win was Deepti Sharma getting 'mankad run-out' Charlotte Dean.
The run-out turned out to be a game changer for India. An in-form Dean was batting unbeaten at 47 and was looking to take her team over the line but Deepti Sharma showed brilliant presence of mind to run out the English batter as she was way ahead of her crease at the non-strikers' end. As per latest ICC rules, such dismissal, which was earlier known as 'Mankading', should be considered as run-out.
'Spirit of the game' vs 'Laws of the game' debate took over the internet with fans and cricket pundits from all over the world giving out their opinions on the incident.
Former India cricketer and icon Sachin Tendulkar, in an exclusive interview with Sportstar, backed Deepti Sharma, saying that she did not do anything that was against the laws of cricket.
"She was playing to what the laws of the game are," Tendulkar said. "Spirit of cricket… whatever you are playing within the rules of the game, that is spirit of cricket," he added.
"When asked if he would run-out a batsman like Deepti Sharma did, Sachin Tendulkar hinted that since it's legal now, he would not hesitate to do it. "It’s a rule now. If a player is short of the crease or doesn’t make the crease, then the batter is given out, right? Just like he misses a ball that’s heading toward stumps and in line of the stumps, he is given out lbw. So the ICC has introduced the rule that if you are out of the crease (before the ball is bowled), then you are run out," Sachin added.