Mankad Dismissal in Cricket Explained
The Mankad (now called Run Out at the Non-Striker's End) is a dismissal where the bowler runs out the non-striking batter before delivery — one of cricket's most controversial dismissals.
What Is the Mankad Dismissal?
The Mankad — officially renamed by the ICC in 2022 to Run Out at the Non-Striker's End — is a dismissal where the bowler, during the delivery stride but before releasing the ball, removes the bails at the non-striker's end while the non-striking batter has backed up too far out of their crease. It is named after Indian cricketer Vinoo Mankad, who dismissed Australian Bill Brown with this method in 1947, sparking significant debate about whether the dismissal was within the spirit of the game.
The Controversy and Rule Change
For decades, the Mankad dismissal was legal but widely considered unsporting — batters backing up early gain a few steps' advantage in completing runs, but removing the bails without warning was seen as a breach of spirit. Custom required that the bowler give a verbal warning first. The controversy came to a head in 2019 when Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Jos Buttler in an IPL match without prior warning. In 2022, the ICC moved the dismissal from the 'unfair play' section of the Laws into the 'run out' section, legally and formally ratifying it as a standard and legitimate dismissal.
How It Is Executed
The bowler, in their delivery stride approaching the crease, removes the bails at the non-striker's end with the ball while the non-striking batter is outside their crease. The bowler must do this before releasing the ball — once the ball is released, any subsequent run out at the non-striker's end is a standard run out off the delivery. The non-striker must be out of their ground when the bowler breaks the wicket. If the non-striker is inside their crease at the moment the bails are removed, they are not out.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Mankad dismissal in cricket?
The Mankad (now Run Out at the Non-Striker's End) is when the bowler removes the bails at the non-striker's end before releasing the ball, dismissing the backing-up non-striking batter.
Is the Mankad legal in cricket?
Yes — since 2022, the Mankad is classified as a legitimate run out under the Laws of Cricket. Warning the batter first is no longer required.
Why is it called the Mankad?
It is named after Indian cricketer Vinoo Mankad who used the dismissal against Australian Bill Brown in 1947, sparking the controversy that defined the method for decades.