Jadeja and Sundar Reject Ben Stokes' Draw Proposal in Drama-Ridden Test Conclusion

The last day of the fourth Test match between India and England at Old Trafford became an event that will be remembered forever as drama and emotion dominated the proceedings. With 15 overs remaining in the day and the match well on its way to a draw India's Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja stole the headlines by spurning England skipper Ben Stokes' gesture of a handshake to cut the match short. Instead of offering to call off both Indian players chose to bat on. Jadeja was 89 at the time and Sundar had scored 81 both closing in on individual milestones.

This denial set off an acrimonious on-field confrontation that soon became a buzz in the cricket fraternity. Ben Stokes wasn't amused when India refused to call off play. To make his point he passed the ball to part-time bowlers Harry Brook and Ben Duckett in what appeared to be a gesture of mock to test the seriousness of India's intention. The English side was not very happy about it and players like Jofra Archer and Zak Crawley spoke out about it. Archer informed Jadeja that if he needed a hundred he should have played more purposefully in the early part of the game. Crawley chimed in and said they could send down bouncers if Jadeja was so eager to bat. Duckett also asked how much longer India was to go on and mockingly asked whether Jadeja required another hour to allow both the players to score their centuries.

Jadeja kept his cool in the exchange by stating that England had been bowling bouncers throughout the day and that he could not simply choose to quit playing. When Ben Stokes belittled Jadeja by questioning whether he would actually score a hundred off part-time bowlers such as Brook and Duckett Jadeja simply said that there was nothing much he could do. Stokes then replied bluntly that yes he could and that he could simply walk away. The exchange reflected obvious frustration from the England side who might have hoped for more respect for each other with the game obviously going towards a draw. In spite of the heat on the field, Jadeja and Sundar remained focused. They did not get affected by the chatter and went on batting determinedly. Both the players eventually scored their respective centuries with Jadeja remaining unbeaten on 107 and Sundar not out on 101.

Together, they ensured India a draw and prevented what could otherwise have been a loss. What was outstanding beyond their verbal communication was the silent message that came through sheer performance and determination. After the match, Washington Sundar spoke about his feelings in a post-game interview. Scoring his first Test hundred is clearly one very emotional experience. He termed the hundred as special and something very hard to put into words. He also disclosed that head coach Gautam Gambhir had told him just one thing prior to going on to bat and that was to continue fighting the whole day long. Sundar admitted that he kept himself focused on that one objective which helped him remain strong mentally throughout the innings. Batting at position 5 for the first time he seized the moment with both hands and played a match-saving innings which cricket fans will recall for a very long time. Sundar and Jadeja's 203-run fifth-wicket stand remained as an example of grit and composure under pressure. While the English team may have thought India's failure to shake hands was bad sport the Indian batsmen just saw it as an opportunity to make their stay in the middle meaningful. A Test century is not merely a figure of numbers to a cricketer particularly in a tight spot and both the players made the most of the moment. Their resolve also highlighted how much importance India had assigned to individual performances even when the team outcome was no longer a subject of contention.

The episode soon became a buzz in the world of cricket. Pundits and ex-players differed in their opinions. While some condemned the Indian pair for prolonging the match others lauded them for being true to their personal and professional objectives. Outspoken players such as former players Kapil Dev and Geoffrey Boycott gave their contrasting views. In the meantime, public opinion on social media was also divided. Some people viewed it as a typical case of mind games while others felt England's sarcasm was uncalled for. Since the video clip of the exchange was later posted by Sky Sports it provided fans with a closer insight into what transpired in real time.

Phrases such as "you should have played like that before" and "you want to score a Test century against Harry Brook" reflected England's camp frustration and sarcasm. But they also revealed the passion and pride of international cricket. Both sets of players have their motives and the two sides were clearly well motivated for their decisions. At the end of the day what transpired at Old Trafford was a bit more than fiery words. It was an occasion when cricket demonstrated why it's not all about runs or wickets but also about pride emotion and the tales behind every choice. Whether or not one's in agreement with the Indian players' gesture or not it is evident that Jadeja and Sundar decided to stand by themselves and closed the Test match not only with runs but also with dignity for their determination. Their silent response to England's ire was served via the bat and maybe that's the ultimate form of cricket response.