Ashwin decided against running Finch out after the non-striker was backing up during the Delhi Capitals v Royal Challengers Bangalore encounter in Dubai, but made it clear after the match that this was his “first and final warning for 2020”. He famously dismissed Jos Buttler in similar fashion in the last edition of the IPL and has staunchly defended his stance since.

Let’s make it clear !! First and final warning for 2020. I am making it official and don’t blame me later on. @RickyPonting #runout #nonstriker @AaronFinch5 and I are good buddies btw.😂😂 #IPL2020

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) October 5, 2020

The Delhi Capitals spinner has now revealed the reason behind his decision, saying Finch “has been a good friend” since their Kings XI Punjab days, which is why he decided to give him a “final warning”.

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“I’m not a leader to give out messages,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. “Don’t want to make an issue out of it. When we played, one side of the ground was big. I knew someone would back up, because boundaries weren’t that easy. They had guys who could convert ones to twos. So I knew it would happen. I went into my jump and a gold helmet floated past me and it kept going on its own.

“I stopped and thought for a second (whether to run him out or not) but he was still outside, just staring at me and didn’t come into the crease. He’s been a good friend since KXIP days. He’s a very nice guy, a lot of times we have sat together in the evenings and passed time. So I let it slide as a final warning.

“I feel that the punishment should be severe. Dock 10 runs for backing up. No batsman would go out then. Getting batsmen out like this is not a skill but there are no options for the bowler either.”

Ricky Ponting, the Delhi Capitals coach, had earlier warned Ashwin against using the mode of dismissal but the off-spinner said that Ponting wanted him to run Finch out as he had “gone too far down”.

Looks like Ashwin has taken Ponting’s advice …#IPL2020 #DCvsRCB pic.twitter.com/XzzpvNy1l7

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) October 5, 2020

“I tagged Ponting in the tweet,” he added. “He said ‘he’s gone too far down, I myself wanted you to run him out’. A wrong is a wrong, he said. He’s talking to the ICC committee about a run penalty. He’s trying really hard to keep his promise.”