Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has come out strongly in defense of Team India, responding to criticism from England captain Ben Stokes regarding the refusal to shake hands during the fourth Test of the recently concluded India vs England Test series.
The controversy began after India, while batting to save the fourth Test, chose not to agree to a draw despite the match heading for a stalemate. This reportedly irked Ben Stokes, who expected the Indian side to offer a handshake earlier, allowing both teams to rest before the final Test. But Tendulkar firmly dismissed that expectation as unreasonable.
Speaking in a video interaction on Reddit, Tendulkar said, “Washington (Sundar) 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 give rest to England bowlers and fielders?”
"I am absolutely with the Indian team"- Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar also criticized the logic of trying to frame the decision as unsporting, especially considering India were still under pressure when Washington and Jadeja came to the crease.
“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 for their hundreds. If they had gotten out when they came to bat, we could’ve lost,” he added. “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!”
Backing every decision made by the Indian team during the series, Tendulkar said he stood firmly behind players like Gautam Gambhir, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar.
“I am absolutely with the Indian team, be it Gambhir or Shubman or Jadeja or Washington, whoever decided. I'm 100 percent with them,” he stated. “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.”
Tendulkar's comments have resonated with many fans who felt the criticism from England’s camp was misplaced. With the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy ending in a thrilling 2–2 draw, the series was fiercely contested and as Tendulkar points out, playing to the very end was the right call.
