‘Felt like doing it even more….’: Ashwin on controversy after running out Buttler at non-strikers end

During the 2019 clash between the Punjab Kings (PBKS) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR), Ashwin, then representing PBKS, ran out Buttler at the non-strikers’ end as the batter tried to move out of his crease before the ball was bowled. This generated a lot of talk and controversy around the concept of fair play, spirit of the game, and it was met with mixed reactions from social media. While some fans cited that doing so is well within the cricketing laws, the others felt that Ashwin should have warned Buttler about stepping out of his crease to preserve the ‘spirit of the game’.