Explained: Why Deepti Sharma's legal run-out has attracted controversy, the rules and misuse of Mankad's name

Women’s cricket has been the cynosure of all eyes in the last couple of days. It was all due to Deepti Sharma deciding to run out England’s Charlie Dean at the non-strikers’ end for backing up too much.

Dean, with her fighting knock of 40, was threatening to take the game away from India despite the visitors having England on the mat in the third ODI at Lord’s. With 17 runs required and five overs to go, Deepti showcased excellent game awareness, running Dean out in her bowling stride.

While rare, running a batter out for backing up is well within the ambit of cricket laws. Dean had allegedly moved early 72 times in the contest before Deepti resorted to the particular mode of dismissal. Yet the whole incident has snowballed into a controversy with England cricketing fraternity accusing India of disregarding the ‘spirit’ of the game.

Deepti’s claim that Dean was warned before her dismissal in the match and England captain heather Knight’s counterclaims accusing the Indian cricketer of ‘lying’ has only added more spice to the whole commotion.

Just for the sake of clarity, let’s have another look at the laws…

‘Mankading’ as it is commonly known comes from India’s Vinoo Mankad who famously ran out Australia’s Bill Brown in the same manner in the 1947 Sydney Test. Sportsmanship and spirit of game aside, it is a legal act and the provision to do so has been laid out in the laws of the game.

Law 41.16.1 says: “If the non-striker is out of his/her ground at any time from the moment the ball comes into play until the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the non-striker is liable to be Run out.”

In fact, after the Lord’s incident, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodian of the Laws, reiterated that Deepti did nothing wrong by running out Dean.

“MCC’s message to non-strikers continues to be to remain in their ground until they have seen the ball leave the bowler’s hand. Then dismissals, such as the one seen yesterday, cannot happen. Whilst yesterday was indeed an unusual end to an exciting match, it was properly officiated and should not be considered as anything more,” MCC’s statement read.

Why the controversy if the mode of dismissal is legal?

The aggrieved party in Deepti’s incident has largely been the English cricketer fraternity who have called the run-out an act against the ‘spirit of cricket’ despite it being legal.

Former England cricketer Lydia Greenway, who was on air during the dismissal, for Sky Sports, had this to say: “It doesn’t feel like the right way to win a game. They [India] are allowed to do it, they’re well within their right to get a wicket that way, but I would disagree with the way that it was managed.”

England cricketers questioned Deept’s sportsmanship before accusing her of deliberately delaying her delivery to run Dean out.

I find the debate of the Mankad really interesting. So many views from either side. I personally wouldn’t like to win a match like that, also, very happy for others to feel differently https://t.co/BItCNJZqYB

— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) September 24, 2022

Well within the laws but not in the spirit.

Just my opinion… the law should be changed back to a warning system or penalty runs for excessive backing up for eg

— Sam Billings (@sambillings) September 24, 2022

Spot on. No intention of bowling the ball