ENG vs IND: “10 more runs ain't gonna change the fact...” - Ben Stokes schoker on Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja's tons

Ben Stokes offered India to end the game in a draw when Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar were approaching tons.

England skipper Ben Stokes shared his take on India all-rounders Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja not accepting his offer to shake hands for a draw for their tons in fourth test of the ongoing test series. He said that 10 more runs wouldn’t have changed the fact that they bailed their team out of trouble. 

Jadeja and Sundar came up with one of the best partnerships in the history of Indian test cricket in the fourth test against England in Manchester. On day five, the hosts needed just eight wickets to win and had 137 runs in the bank. 

India were under massive pressure as they lost both the overnight batters in KL Rahul (90) and Shubman Gill (103) in the first session. It was expected that they would succumb to pressure as England were going all guns blazing with the ball.

However, Jadeja and Sundar came up with a massive effort and showed great caution. They put in the hard yards together and ensured that India took a lead in the second innings, providing their team with two wicketless sessions.

With England accepting the fact that only a draw is possible, skipper Stokes walked to Jadeja and offered to shake hands and end the game in a draw. This came at a time when both the Indian all-rounders were approaching their tons.

However, Jadeja and Sundar didn’t accept Stokes’ offer and continued batting. The England team expressed their displeasure and said some harsh words to the Indian batters, who then went on to hit a sensational ton with the bat. 

The knock that those two played was very, very good – Ben Stokes lauded Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar

While talking about the episode, Stokes lauded Jadeja and Sundar for their heroics. Speaking to reporters, he said:

“The knock that those two played was very, very good,” Stokes said at the press conference. The situation that India found themselves in there, with us opening the game slightly, that partnership was massive. You hold your hands up, they played incredibly, incredibly well.”

“And I don’t think there would’ve been too much more satisfaction from walking off a hundred not out, getting your team out of a tricky situation, than walking off at 80, 90 not out.”

Stokes, while praising the Indian duo, added that the hard work that they put in wasn’t going to change by the 10 more runs that they scored to reach their tons. He elaborated:

“That’s what you’ve done for your team. You know, the 10 more runs or whatever it was ain’t gonna change the fact that you’ve managed to get your team out of a very, very, very tricky situation and almost saved your team from a series defeat before the last game.”

The series is still in favour of England by a margin of 2-1. The last game will be played at The Oval in London, beginning on 31st July.

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