The fourth Test between India and England in Manchester ended in a gripping draw, but post-match drama between Ben Stokes and Ravindra Jadeja stole the spotlight. As India denied England a win through a record 203-run unbeaten partnership between Jadeja and Washington Sundar, emotions ran high—particularly from England captain Stokes.
Stokes approached the Indian duo late on Day 5 to offer a handshake and call off the match. However, Jadeja and Sundar declined as they were both close to scoring centuries. This appeared to frustrate Stokes, who expressed displeasure with India’s decision to continue playing for personal milestones rather than settling for a draw.
Tensions Boil as Stokes Initially Refuses Jadeja’s Handshake
After both Jadeja and Sundar reached their centuries, the Indian players walked toward the England side and umpires to formally conclude the match. While most players exchanged handshakes, new footage shows Stokes initially ignoring Jadeja and turning his back when the Indian all-rounder approached.
Though Stokes shook hands with Sundar and others, he only extended his hand to Jadeja after a brief verbal exchange. Even then, the gesture appeared cold, with no eye contact, signaling clear tension between the two.
The incident follows mounting friction between the teams, including comments from Stokes earlier in the series regarding the spirit of the game and India’s tactics. Post-match, Jadeja reportedly called out Stokes for the behavior, escalating the narrative around competitive aggression and respect in Test cricket.
As the series heads to a thrilling finale at The Oval, this moment adds another layer to an already intense India vs England rivalry. All eyes will be on how both captains carry forward the momentum—and the emotions—into the decider.
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