The final day of the fourth Test in Manchester might not have ended with a result but it left plenty of heat in its wake.
England captain Ben Stokes found himself at the centre of a controversy after trying (and failing) to convince India to shake hands for a draw with more than 15 overs left in the game.
Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar were both in their 80s at the time they declined the offer. They batted on, completed their centuries and only then did the players shake hands.
The decision didn't go well with England's fielders, who made their displeasure known - none more so than Stokes himself. And now, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has come down hard on the England captain for his on-field behaviour.
Sanjay Manjrekar slams Ben Stokes for on-field antics
Speaking on JioCinema after the conclusion of the Test match, Sanjay Manjrekar criticized Stokes for letting emotions override professionalism.
"He's unhappy that the players haven't walked off. But throwing lollipops in the air and showing a little bit of grumpiness out there. Ben Stokes was behaving like a spoiled kid," Manjrekar said.
"Stokes should have handled that better. It was Ben, the hero, the champion that I admire. On that occasion he was behaving like a spoiled kid."
Once it was clear India were not walking off, Stokes lobbed the ball to Harry Brook, who responded with non-serious deliveries, including a slow, hooping 59km/h full toss. Jadeja brought up his hundred with a six off one such ball.
Former cricketer Jonathan Trott had suggested that Stokes would have accepted a draw if India were in England's shoes. Manjrekar dismissed that as a "difference in culture" and stressed that England had no right to expect things to go their way.
Wake me up when Ben Stokes pull this stunt in Jadeja's country 🙇♂️ pic.twitter.com/dD5MhJsf77
— Prayash (@cricloverPrayas) July 27, 2025
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