‘Would England have walked off?’ Gautam Gambhir hits back at English reporter over handshake row
Gautam Gambhir defends Jadeja and Sundar after handshake controversy in Manchester Test, questioning England's stance on players chasing milestones.
New Delhi: The Manchester Test between India and England had its share of thrilling moments over five days but none as dramatic as the final stretch of play. What should have been a straight forward end to a hard-fought game turned into a mini showdown after Indian batters Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar turned down the offer of a draw from England skipper Ben Stokes. With both players inching toward personal milestones they stood firm sparking frustration from the English camp.
As the clock ticked down Jadeja and Sundar dug in as their eyes were set on the centuries after an intense innings of resilience. Their decision not to accept the draw visibly irked Stokes leading to an exchange of words on the field. Once both reached their centuries, the drama spilled into the post-match handshakes. The England captain notably bypassed the two Indian batters, a move that added more fuel to the already growing debate.
Gambhir takes a firm stand
Indian head coach Gautam Gambhi who is known for his no-nonsense attitude didn't hold back when quizzed about the incident during the post-match press conference. In response to a question by an English reporter about the so-called handshake snub, Gambhir shot back with a question of his own- "Would England have walked off if one of their batters was on 90 or 85 and chasing a maiden Test hundred?"
He firmly defended Jadeja and Sundar stating that every batter dreams of scoring a ton and has every right to pursue it. "If someone is batting on 90, and the other is batting on 85, don't they deserve a hundred?" Gambhir asked. "Both of those guys deserved it, and they got it."
Sundar in particular reached a significant milestone as he scored his maiden Test century which came shortly before handshakes were exchanged. The whole episode sparked divided opinions among fans and pundits with some supporting the spirit of the game and others questioning the timing of the decision.
India stay in hunt
The gritty knock from Jadeja and Sundar ensured India stayed alive in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. With the series now poised at 2-1 in England's favour, India will head into the final Test at The Oval with the momentum on their side and a chance to level the series. It was a timely resurgence from a team that had its back against the wall and proved once again that pride, determination and milestones still matter in the longest format of the game.