In the opening One-Day International, India captain Rohit Sharma received praise for dropping a “Mankad” run-out plea against Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka (ODI).
When Mohammed Shami, a fast bowler, took out the opposing batsmen in Guwahati’s penultimate over for backing up at the non-end, striker’s Shanaka was on 98 runs.
“I had no idea he (Shami) did that (run-out) when he went up for an appeal,” Rohit told broadcasters Star Sports after the win.
“We cannot get him out like that. We wanted to get him out, we thought we will get him out, but that was not something we thought off. But again, hats off to him, he played really well.”
Shanaka went on to score an unbroken 108 to reach his second ODI century, but India went on to thrash the visitors by 67 runs to take a 1-0 series lead.
Sanath Jayasuriya and several former Sri Lankan cricketers praised Rohit’s sportsmanship, though..
“The real winner was the sportsmanship of Rohit Sharma for refusing to take the run out. I doff my cap to you!,” Jayasuriya wrote on Twitter.
Former player Angelo Mathews said, “Not many captains would do this but hats off to @ImRo45 for withdrawing the appeal even though the law says so! Displaying great sportsmanship.”
After Indian all-rounder Vinoo Mankad, who ran out Bill Brown twice in that manner 75 years ago on a tour of Australia in 1948, the uncommon method of dismissal was given his name.
