IPL 2021: Venkatesh Prasad Calls Out 'Spirit Of Cricket' After Bravo Backs Up Too Far

Cricket Image for IPL 2021: Venkatesh Prasad Calls Out 'Spirit Of Cricket' After Bravo Backs Up Too (Image Source: Twitter)

Venkatesh Prasad, on Tuesday, called out 'Spirit of Cricket' after Dwayne Bravo was seen backing up too far ahead during the 12th match of IPL 2021 between Chennai Super Kings(CSK) and Rajasthan Royals(RR). 

The incident happened in the last over of the first innings when Mustafizur Rahman was bowling and Bravo was at the non-strikers' end. Rahman bowled a front-foot no-ball and in the replays, it was shown that his leg was a few centimeters ahead of the crease. However, in the same frame, it could be seen that Bravo was far ahead as he left the crease even before Rahman released the delivery. 

The first one to criticize Bravo for this was Harsha Bhogle, who was on-air at that time. 

"Look where Bravo is.... 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," Bhogle said. 

Look where Bravo was even before Mustafizur Rahman’s delivery pic.twitter.com/TPg54kqScX

— msc media (@mscmedia2) April 20, 2021

This frame also caught the attention of former Indian fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad who also said that the "bowler has every right to run out a batsman."

The bowler overstepping by a few inches is penalised, but a batsman backing up a few yards isn’t.
The bowler has every right to run out a batsman backing up so far. PERIOD.

Calling it against the spirit of the game is a joke @ICC .#CSKvRR pic.twitter.com/vIHqbe6fWU

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) April 20, 2021

Still trying to work out why people say it is wrong to Mankad a batsman. Your out of your crease before the ball has left the hand, you are trying to gain an advantage and you cry foul when a bowler does what is legal. #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/simuH13lHm

— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) April 20, 2021

It is not the first time such a thing has happened however whenever a bowler tries to run the batsman out, the argument of 'Spirit of the game' suddenly comes out of nowhere.