Ben Stokes Faces Backlash Over Handshake Incident in Fourth Test Against India

England's captain Ben Stokes has sparked controversy following his handshake offer to Indian players Jadeja and Sundar during the fourth Test, which ended in a draw. Despite England's significant first-innings lead, India managed to secure a remarkable draw, with key performances from their batsmen. Stokes' visible frustration at the Indian players' refusal to shake hands has drawn criticism. In a post-match interview, he explained his decision-making process regarding his bowlers. The fifth Test is set for July 31, with England leading the series 2-1.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 28, 2025, 07:24 IST

Controversy Surrounds Ben Stokes in Fourth Test

Ben Stokes, the captain of the England cricket team, has found himself in the spotlight following his actions during the final day of the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford. The match concluded in a draw after India managed to bat for over 140 overs, successfully defending against a daunting target after England had established a significant first-innings lead of 311 runs.

Initially, India faced a challenging situation, losing two early wickets in the first over. However, they managed to stabilize their innings, with key contributions from Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar, all scoring centuries, while KL Rahul narrowly missed out with a score of 90.

As the match progressed towards a draw, Stokes attempted to extend a handshake to Jadeja and Sundar, signaling an end to the game. However, both players declined the offer, as they were close to achieving their respective centuries—Jadeja was on 89 and Sundar needed just 20 runs for his maiden Test hundred. Stokes appeared visibly frustrated by their refusal, and other England players also expressed their displeasure verbally.

After both Jadeja and Sundar completed their centuries, they eventually agreed to shake hands with the England team. Stokes has since faced criticism for his behavior during this incident. In a post-match interview, he explained his rationale, stating, "As soon as it got to that point where the draw was inevitable, I was never going to risk any of my front-line bowlers with the short turnaround that we have and the workload that we've got through this week and throughout the series as well... I wasn't going to risk any of my proper bowling options in that situation, knowing what was going on."

Despite the match ending in a draw, England maintains a 2-1 lead in the series, with the fifth and final Test set to take place on July 31.