'Captain's job is to actually back the player...': R. Ashwin's brutal take on Pant, slams commentators for glorifying Jitesh Sharma run-out in LSG vs RCB clash

Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin suggested that the commentators normalise the run-outs at the non-striker's end and disassociate them with the spirit of cricket after Jitesh Sharma's controversial potential dismissal.

The incident happened during RCB's last league match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) when stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma was outside the crease and LSG star Digvesh Rathi dislodged the ball. Digevsh went for an official appeal after hitting the ball to the stumps and also informed the umpire of the same, but LSG skipper Rishabh Pant withdrew the appeal shortly after.

The commentators hailed Pant for his decision, which was called as an act of sportsmanship. Ashwin disagreed with the commentators and urged everyone to get along with the times, especially now that run-out is a legal dismissal.

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"Bowler attempted a run out, the umpire gave it not out, everything is alright until now. Just another day at the office. But then, the commentators went, 'Rishabh Pant has withdrawn the appeal. What an amazing act of sportsmanship. Come on yaar, let's grow out of this," R Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Ashwin also questioned Rishabh Pant's decision to withdraw the appeal, the former India off-spinner suggested that the captain's job is to back the player.

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"Just think that Digvesh Rathi is your son. His captain, in a way, criticised his decision in front of crores of people. A captain's job is to actually back the player, a captain's job is to not to make a bowler feel small," he added.

Coming back to the match, Jitesh Sharma and Mayank Agarwal's 107-run unbeaten stand helped the RCB to defeat LSG by six wickets. With this win, the Bengaluru-based franchise has sealed their berth for the IPL 2025 playoffs, which will take place on May 29. RCB will face Shreyas Iyer-led Punjab Kings for the qualifier 1 which will take place at the New Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in New Chandigarh (Mullanpur).