"Why should they go ahead and give rest to England bowlers?" - Sachin Tendulkar lashes out at Ben Stokes over handshake saga during Manchester test

Ben Stokes took 17 wickets in the ENG vs IND series.

Former India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar shared his take on Ben Stokes offering Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar to shake hands for a draw during the game against the England Cricket Team at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester. He lashed out at the hosts for their actions, saying it was in the spirit of the game. 

Ben Stokes became a part of the controversy during the fourth test of the series against India when he offered Ravindra Jadeja to shake hands for a draw when he and Washington Sundar were approaching their tons. The Indians didn’t accept his offer and continued batting. 

This saw England players, including Stokes, getting irked, and they had some harsh words to say to the Indian batters. This didn’t go well with many, as they lashed out at the Ben Stokes-led side for their poor gesture. 

Why is it not in the right spirit? – Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar shared his take on the same, saying that both Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar battled hard and there was no need for them to accept Ben Stokes’ offer. 

He also lashed out at Ben Stokes for his remarks of “you want to get a hundred against Ben Duckett and Harry Brook” to Jadeja, saying that it was England’s problem and not India’s. Speaking to Reddit, he said:

“Washington scored a hundred, and Jadeja scored a hundred. Why is it not in the right spirit? They were playing for a draw. Before that, they battled it out when England were having a go at them, and negotiated it all to bat brilliantly. The series was alive, so why should they go ahead (and shake hands) and give rest to England bowlers and fielders?“

“If England wanted to hand the ball to Harry Brook, it was Ben Stokes’ choice. It wasn’t India’s problem. To me, it was fine. They were playing for a draw, not their hundreds. If they had gotten out when they came to bat, we could’ve lost. When they came out to bat, Harry Brook wasn’t bowling, was he? So, why should England’s bowlers be fresh for the 5th Test? Do you have an answer for that? No!”

Sachin Tendulkar also said that he supports India’s decision to bat even after Ben Stokes offered to draw the game. He added: 

“I am absolutely with the Indian team, be it Gambhir or Shubman or Jadeja or Washington, whoever decided. I’m 100 percent with them. In the last Test match, when it was time to accelerate, Sundar did that brilliantly, didn’t he? Where it was needed to occupy the crease, he did that in the fourth Test. And when it was needed to press the accelerator hard, he did that in the fifth. So, well done.” 

Both Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar got to their tons in that game and after that shook the hands with Stokes. The series between the two teams ended in a 2-2 draw.

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