Ravichandran Ashwin didn’t hold back as he publicly called out England captain Ben Stokes for his conduct on Day 5 of the Manchester Test. The Indian spinner was clearly miffed at Stokes’ sarcastic remark to Ravindra Jadeja, where he questioned if Jadeja really wanted to score a century against part-timers like Harry Brook.
The Controversial Moment: Stokes vs Jadeja
With the match heading toward an inevitable draw, Stokes approached Jadeja and Washington Sundar for an early handshake, hoping to end play. But both Indian batters were nearing well-deserved centuries and refused to comply. What followed was a visible change in England’s demeanor—frustrated, they began tossing up easy deliveries, trying to mock the moment rather than compete.
Stokes, in a dig at Jadeja, reportedly said:
“You’re going to get a Test hundred against Harry Brook?”
That jab didn’t sit well with Ashwin.
Ashwin Responds: “Call Flintoff, Call Harmison”
Speaking on his YouTube show ‘Ash Ki Baat’, Ashwin hit back:
“Double standards, anyone? They batted all day and suddenly, when they’re close to hundreds, you want to call it off? Why should they?”
Ashwin went on to mock Stokes’ taunt:
“You ask, ‘You want a hundred against Harry?’ Not Brook, brother—anyone. Call Andrew Flintoff, call Steve Harmison for all we care. Jadeja’s job is to score runs, not pick who’s bowling.”
“Boss, Your Frustration Is Not Our Problem”
Ashwin continued, pointing out that Stokes’ frustration stemmed from India dominating the game and not playing by his emotional whims. He stressed that centuries in Test cricket aren’t handed out—they’re earned.
“So what if you didn’t want to tire your bowlers? That doesn’t mean Jadeja and Sundar give up their moment. These are Test runs. A century is a milestone. Washington and Jadeja both earned theirs.”
Final Thoughts: Ashwin Defends Team India’s Integrity
The veteran spinner concluded by saying that cricket isn’t played on the emotional terms of one individual. Jadeja and Sundar, who stitched together a 203-run stand and helped secure the draw, were well within their rights to continue batting.
“Boss, your frustration is not our problem,” Ashwin summed up. “That’s not how cricket works.”
As the series heads into the final Test at The Oval on July 31, it’s safe to say that tempers will be running high.
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