Seven years after one of the most talked-about moments in IPL history, Ravichandran Ashwin is revisiting the infamous 'Mankading' incident involving Jos Buttler—and he's not backing down.

It was IPL 2019, and Ashwin, then captain of Punjab Kings, ran out Buttler at the non-striker's end as the Rajasthan Royals batter backed up too far. The dismissal sparked heated debates about the 'spirit of cricket,' with Buttler leaving the field visibly frustrated. Now, Ashwin has made his stance crystal clear.

"If the ICC felt this was an honesty problem, they wouldn't keep it in the rules," Ashwin said on The Ravichandran Ashwin Experience on JioStar. "If you need two runs off one ball and you start running early, whose fault is it? People say I did it to win. Of course, I did it to win. What is there to be ashamed of?"

Ashwin recalled telling his teammates not to worry about the backlash. "I told them, 'Don't worry about the reaction, I will handle the media—we just have to win.' And we won. So, there is no issue of character in this."

While Ashwin stands firm on that controversial moment, he does have one regret from his IPL journey—and it's not about the mankading.

With 187 wickets in 221 matches across five franchises from 2009 to 2025, Ashwin has had a storied career. He captained Punjab Kings in 2018–19 but admits he never quite made the team his own. "When Punjab picked me in 2018, I honestly gave it everything. But I have a slight feeling that I couldn't make that team my own. At an auction, you get the chance to build your team... the team couldn't quite be built around me. I may not have achieved much as a captain, but the learnings were immense."

His stint with Rajasthan Royals, however, was a different story. "I spent three years there, and that stint helped me make a comeback to the Indian team. The way RR utilised me was first-class, and I enjoyed my cricket there like nowhere else. My only small regret is that I couldn't win a title with RR."

For fans who love the drama and passion of the IPL, Ashwin's career is a masterclass in resilience—from controversial moments to personal comebacks. And while he may not have lifted the trophy with Rajasthan, his legacy as one of the league's most compelling figures is undeniable.