India’s head coach defended his team’s decision to continue batting despite a late offer from the opposition captain to call off the match early. With the result of the fourth Test at Old Trafford heading for a draw, England captain Ben Stokes suggested shaking hands with 15 overs left in the final session. But India opted to play on, allowing Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja to complete unbeaten centuries.
The move, while legal and within the spirit of the game according to India, left England slightly irritated. Stokes argued that scoring a few extra runs would not change the significance of the duo’s effort in saving the match. He praised their batting but felt that the moment of team salvation had already been achieved.
“We took the game as far as we could with our main bowlers,” Stokes noted, highlighting the physical strain his side had endured. With a short turnaround before the final Test, he chose to rest key bowlers and instead turned to part-timer Harry Brook, who delivered a few gentle overs that helped the Indian pair reach their milestones.
From India’s perspective, the decision was straightforward. Both Sundar, on 80, and Jadeja, on 89, were approaching personal landmarks, with Sundar chasing his maiden Test ton. The coach questioned whether England would have done the same had the roles been reversed. “If someone is batting on 90 and the other on 85, don’t they deserve a hundred?” he asked.
Stokes, meanwhile, reflected on his heavy workload during the match, having scored a century and taken five wickets. Battling physical fatigue, he expressed uncertainty over playing the final Test but hinted he would likely take part. “These recovery days are going to be important,” he said, suggesting squad rotation may be necessary for England ahead of the Oval Test.
The fourth Test concluded in a draw, setting up a decisive final clash in what has been an intense and draining series. As both sides recover, the debate over sportsmanship versus personal achievement lingers ahead of the series finale.
