Former South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn has weighed in on the handshake controversy from the fourth Test between India and England, siding with England captain Ben Stokes. As debates continue around Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar’s decision to chase personal milestones instead of accepting a draw when offered, Steyn said the “gentlemanly” thing would have been to end the match when the result was beyond doubt.
Jadeja and Sundar’s unbeaten 203-run partnership saved India from defeat after they were reduced to 0/2 in their second innings. Their efforts earned India a draw and kept the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series alive at 2-1, with one match left at The Oval. But drama unfolded in the final hour when Stokes offered a handshake to signal a draw, which both Indian batters declined in pursuit of their centuries. While Jadeja was in the 90s and Sundar in the 80s, they went on to reach their hundreds shortly after.
Steyn: Draw Was the Goal, Not Personal Milestones
Steyn acknowledged that Jadeja and Sundar had the right to continue batting but questioned the timing. Responding to spinner Tabraiz Shamsi on social media, Steyn wrote, “The batters weren’t playing for 100s, they were batting for a DRAW. Once that was accomplished, a handshake was offered. That’s the gentlemanly thing to do, right?”
He suggested that while it was within the rules to bat on, doing so for personal milestones after the match result was clear felt “a little odd.” Steyn added that the pair could have paced up once they realized a win or loss was no longer on the table. “If they had batted aggressively to get to their milestones quickly, then no one would question it,” he wrote.
The contrasting views from former players continue to stir debate around sportsmanship and the unwritten codes of cricket. With the final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy starting Thursday at The Oval, tensions remain high as both teams aim to finish strong. England leads the series 2-1, but India has a chance to level it in London.
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