Gavaskar Criticizes England After Jadeja and Sundar Shine in Manchester Test Draw
The fourth Test between India and England at Manchester ended in a tense draw, but off the field, it sparked controversy. Indian all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar played sensationally well, both hitting unbeaten centuries on the final day. Their partnership helped India pull off a gritty draw after starting their second innings 311 runs behind.
The drama began with just 15 overs left in the match. England captain Ben Stokes went to the umpires, offering to settle for a draw. At that moment, both Jadeja and Sundar were nearing centuries in their 80s. India declined the offer — wanting to let the batters reach their hundreds, which they soon achieved.
However, as Jadeja and Sundar celebrated their milestones, the England players stayed cold. Not one English player applauded when the Indians got to three figures. This silence from England upset many, especially legendary former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar.
Sharing his views on Sony Sports, Gavaskar strongly criticized England’s attitude. He said, “Most of the England players didn’t even clap when the centuries were made. It doesn’t look good. At least show some respect for how hard they worked for those runs. In modern cricket, maybe some see it as weakness to appreciate the other team, but real sportsmanship means recognizing someone else’s great performance. If someone like Stokes or Root was a little sarcastic, that’s one thing. But the rest of the team haven’t scored enough hundreds themselves to act like that.”
The lack of sportsmanship from the English side added to the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy’s already heated atmosphere. According to cricket rules, both captains can agree to finish the match early if there’s no chance of a result. But given India’s massive effort to avoid defeat, Jadeja and Sundar wanted to complete their personal milestones and show their fight.
India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill fully supported the decision not to accept the draw early. They believed Jadeja and Sundar deserved the opportunity to finish what they started.
In the end, the Manchester Test saw not just a battle between bat and ball, but also a debate about the spirit of cricket. Gavaskar’s fiery comments have sparked wider discussion about respect and sportsmanship on the big stage.