Ricky Ponting, the Delhi Capitals head coach, has reiterated the need for new rules to stop runners from backing up, but has simultaneously told R Ashwin to “not Mankad” and “tell the batsman to stay in his crease” instead.

Ponting had kicked up a storm when he warned Ashwin against using the mode of dismissal in the upcoming edition of the IPL. The Indian off-spinner, who dismissed Jos Buttler in similar fashion in the last edition of the tournament, however, maintained his stance and even revealed parts of discussion he had with Ponting.

"That’s going to be a hard conversation I will have to have with him, but I’m pretty sure he’ll take it on the chin."

Bad news for Ashwin ahead of this year's IPL…https://t.co/gqikc2VQCW

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) August 19, 2020

But the former Australia captain, as he had stated during his interaction with Ashwin, continues to oppose Mankad. “He [Ashwin] made me get on a podcast with him when I first arrived here to have a good open chat about it,” Ponting told cricket.com.au. “I think we’re both on the same page. He feels he did everything in the rules and laws of the game and he’s absolutely right.

“He’s saying, ‘What if it’s the last ball of the IPL, what if I’m bowling and the batting teams needs two runs to win and the non-striker is charging halfway down the wicket? What do you expect me to do?’

“There’s an argument there as well, but as I said to him, I would expect that he would hold on to the ball and not Mankad and tell the batsman to stay in his crease next time and see if he’s good enough to try and close the game out for us.”

👀🤣

📸: R Ashwin/Instagram pic.twitter.com/D98H6yR5tM

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) September 2, 2020

Ponting also called for new reforms from the game’s governing body to stop batsmen from trying to gain an unfair advantage.

“I think something has to happen with the laws of the game to make sure batsmen can’t cheat and there certainly shouldn’t be the Mankad rule the way it is,” he said.

“I think if you bring in some sort of run penalty for the batsman if they’re deliberately leaving their crease and pinching ground that might be the way to go about it.

“I’m sure those discussions are happening at the moment because I don’t think it’s a good look on the game when you see a Mankad happen. I think something is going to have to change.”