Ben Stokes And The Handshake Controversy-What Actually Transpired In The Closing Minutes Of The 4th Test

The 4th Test between India and England in Manchester saw a lot of drama during its closing minutes despite the match being drawn. What appeared to be a peaceful finish turned controversial all of a sudden after fans on social media reported that England captain Ben Stokes avoided greeting Indian players Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. A clip of Stokes passing by them without a greeting surfaced later and this ended up attracting a lot of criticism on social media. Folks started questioning Stokes' sportsmanship and labeled him as disrespectful following a dramatic conclusion to the game.

But this whole saga changed course when yet another video began trending on the internet. This second video revealed that Ben Stokes had already shaken hands with Jadeja and Sundar earlier immediately after Sundar scored his first Test century. The initial video had displayed just the last few seconds post-match but not the previous instance where Stokes did not greet the Indian players. The new video cleared all the ambiguity and established that the England captain had not in fact ignored the handshakes. Even ex-England skipper Michael Vaughan came forward and tweeted in support of Stokes explaining that criticism was being made based on an incomplete picture of what actually transpired.

Though the handshake problem was resolved the furore did not cease. Stokes was still criticized for attempting to persuade the Indian team to abandon the match prematurely. When Jadeja made his request both he and Sundar were approaching individual landmarks with each of them nearing a century. India had already taken charge with the bat and it was obvious that the match would be a draw but the Indian batsmen decided to go on for a bit more overs to achieve their hundreds. Stokes seemed dissatisfied with this and asked why India wished to continue playing even when the fate was sealed.

It resulted in a minor confrontation between him and Jadeja on the field. The tension was not lost to fans or ex-players. Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also expressed strong views about the issue. Talking on his YouTube channel he blamed Stokes for exhibiting double standards. As per Ashwin England had been permitted to bat without restrain and now that Indian batsmen were near centuries, Stokes would have liked the game to be over quickly. Ashwin has stated that if India could bowl all day and allow England to play continuously then there was no reason why India should consent to taking the game early when Jadeja and Sundar were in position to reach their milestones.

Ashwin was not shy of criticising and opined that Stokes was frustrated and attempting to get others frustrated as well. He further added that a Test century is not something one accomplishes with ease and should never be underestimated. Jadeja and Sundar had tried hard all through the match and had every reason to carry on playing until they achieved triple figures. He said it was not only about the team performance but also personal achievement and that in cricket every century and every run counts. They were not irrelevant runs but hard-earned and should be valued.

Ben Stokes had previously said something when making this statement where he said to Jadeja something on the lines of if you want a hundred then go and get it. Whereas the statement might have appeared innocuous to some, it didn't go down well with quite a number who felt it was made out of annoyance instead of encouragement. It might have appeared to be a routine conversation between two players who were competing against each other but under high emotions and observation by fans it fueled the already heated debate.

Social media had already been abuzz with various opinions. Some of his fans rallied behind Stokes and believed that he had demonstrated sportsmanship but others thought he had done it because he was frustrated. The release of the new video with Stokes greeting Jadeja and Sundar with a handshake eased some of the outrage but still, there was a larger question. Should a player request the other team to withdraw before they complete their own goals simply because the team outcome is already decided

Former cricketers have also lent their voices to the matter. Sunil Gavaskar and Geoffrey Boycott are some among them. Gavaskar felt extremely vexed by the scenario and wanted to know why Stokes sought the match to be closed early when players started attempting centuries. He said this kind of action was against the very grain of the game itself. Boycott provided a more philosophical perspective that what goes around comes around and suggested that occasions like these tend to return in various forms in the future.

Ultimately the game may be reported as a draw but the events of the last few moments provided stories that will last for many years. From allegations of unsportsmanlike behavior to the worth of individual achievements the 4th Test between India and England showed that cricket is more than scores and stats. It's about pride work and the emotions that accompany playing at the very best. The entire ordeal also served as a reminder of how fast stories will travel and how essential it is to see the complete picture before judgment. Thanks to the entire video the reality of what transpired regarding the handshake was laid bare but the argument about whether Stokes was justified in calling for a premature conclusion will probably rage on among enthusiasts and pundits alike.