NEW DELHI: Tempers flared and opinions clashed long after India and England shook hands at Old Trafford, as the handshake that didn’t happen earlier became the main talking point following the drawn fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
With India recovering from 0/2 in their second innings to end Day 5 on 425/4, centuries from Ravindra Jadeja (107*) and Washington Sundar (101*) helped them not only save the Test but dominate the final day.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Yet, what caught the world’s attention was the decision by Jadeja and Sundar to deny Ben Stokes’ offer of an early draw with an hour to go — a move that irked the England captain, who responded with sarcasm: “You want to make a hundred against Harry [Brook]?”
That didn’t sit well with former Indian wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik. “What’s with the English?” he asked during a post-match discussion with Michael Vaughan on Cricbuzz. “At Lord’s, they didn’t want to come to bat, didn’t want to field after a point. And now here, they wanted to shake hands early. How does that sit well with you?”
Vaughan, to his credit, took a measured stance: “Oh, if I’d have been India, I’d have done exactly the same. You’ve fought the entire day, taken blows, worn bouncers from Archer. You get to 85, you stay out there. Shubman’s smile from the balcony said it all.”
Karthik continued, “Look, at lunch, India were down and out. People thought they’d be rolled over. But Gill and KL steadied things, then Jadeja and Washington finished it brilliantly. Even the lowest scorer after ducks — KL Rahul — got 90!”
Vaughan agreed, noting how England, too, wouldn’t have acted differently: “If we had a young player on 85, no way would we have come off. We’d have said, ‘Get your hundred, then we’ll shake hands.’ That’s just the truth.”
He even found humour in the moment: “I will say this — Harry Brook might need to work on his front shoulder if he wants to keep bowling off-spin!”
With the series standing at 2-1 in England’s favour, the Oval is next. But thanks to Day 5’s stubborn resistance and the post-match back-and-forth, the fire has been well and truly lit for the finale.
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