Drama unfolded at Old Trafford on Day 5 of the Manchester Test when Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar declined Ben Stokes’ proposal to shake hands and call the game early. With India heading toward a draw, the decision by the Indian pair to continue batting didn’t sit well with England’s players—and full footage now released by Sky Sports Cricket captures the tense conversation that followed.
Stokes’ Proposal and India’s Refusal
With the result of the match seemingly inevitable, Stokes approached Jadeja and Sundar to propose ending the game ahead of schedule, citing concerns about overworking his seamers. But Jadeja and Sundar were both approaching personal milestones—centuries they had worked hard for—and chose to keep playing.
That didn’t go down smoothly in the England camp.
The On-Field Exchange: Words That Sparked the Fire
Here’s a glimpse of what was said during the now-viral exchange:
- Jofra Archer: “If you wanted a hundred, you should’ve batted like it earlier.”
- Zak Crawley: “Is it your decision? We’ll bowl bouncers at you if you want.”
- Ravindra Jadeja: “You’ve been doing that all day.”
- Ben Duckett: “How long do you need? An hour? He gets to 100, he gets to 90, and then we wait for him?”
- Jadeja: “I can’t just say, ‘Okay, I don’t want to play.’”
- Ben Stokes: “You’re going to get a Test hundred against Harry Brook and Duckett?”
- Crawley: “Shake our hands, and it’s done.”
- Jadeja: “I cannot do anything.”
- Crawley: “Yes, you can. You can shake our hands.”
India Stands Firm, Match Ends in a Draw
Despite the pressure, Jadeja and Sundar stood their ground. After clarifying they were chasing personal milestones, the duo eventually walked off the field with an unbeaten 203-run stand and shook hands to end the game.
Backlash Against England’s Reaction
The confrontation has drawn criticism from several cricket experts. Former England skippers Nasser Hussain and Alastair Cook sided with India, emphasizing that the batters had every right to continue playing.
India captain Shubman Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir also supported the decision, applauding the grit of Jadeja and Sundar, who helped salvage a draw in a pressure-filled scenario.
What’s Next?
India and England will now head to The Oval for the series decider, starting Thursday, July 31. With tensions running high and the series still on the line, expect fireworks both on and off the field.
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