Ind vs Eng: Handshake Drama; Jadeja Smashes Stokes

India vs England in Manchester had no drama for four and a half days. But things got tense in the final hour. Not because of a wicket or a dropped catch, but because of a handshake. Yes, a handshake. England wanted to end the match with a draw. India said no. What followed was awkward, heated, and completely avoidable.

With about 60 minutes left and the match going nowhere, England captain Ben Stokes walked up to the umpire and offered to shake hands. It was his way of saying, “Let’s call it a draw.” But on the crease stood Ravindra Jadeja on 89* and Washington Sundar on 80*. They weren’t done yet. They had batted hard to save the match and wanted to finish the job with a century each. They refused the offer. That’s when things turned ugly.

Clearly annoyed, Stokes reportedly said, “Do you want to score a hundred against Harry Brook?” It was sarcasm. But Jadeja didn’t lose his cool. He simply said, “I can’t do anything,” and kept batting. In fact, when Harry Brook was brought into the attack, seemingly as a protest move, Jadeja lofted him for a six to bring up his century. Smooth. Stylish. And absolutely within the rules.

After the match, India captain Shubman Gill was asked about the drama. His response was calm and clear: “It was up to the boys, but we felt they batted brilliantly. Both of them were in their 90s and we felt they deserved to get to their centuries.” No drama. Just support from the skipper. This is only the second draw in 40 Tests for England under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. The first was because of rain.

So maybe this unfamiliar territory of playing for a draw left them frustrated. They expected a win. But Jadeja and Sundar shut that door with grit and calmness. But does that mean England had to sulk? Not really. As things wrapped up, another moment caught attention. Ben Stokes didn’t shake hands with either Jadeja or Sundar after the match. No congratulations. No acknowledgement. Just walked away.

For someone who offered a handshake earlier, refusing one at the end said a lot. Let’s get one thing straight — refusing a handshake during a match isn’t against the rules. It’s not even unsporting. Especially when a player is inches away from a personal milestone. Jadeja and Sundar worked hard. They earned the right to keep batting. England didn’t like it, but that doesn’t make it wrong.

The real question: Why were England so bitter about something so basic and so fair? Jadeja didn’t argue. He didn’t react. He just let his bat speak. One six. One hundred. One message. No matter how the opposition feels — if you’ve earned it, finish it.