Sachin Tendulkar Breaks Silence On Handshake Controversy: 'Why Should India Give...'

Sachin Tendulkar Breaks Silence On Handshake Controversy: 'Why Should India Give...'

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Last Updated: August 06, 2025, 11:45 IST

Sachin Tendulkar has his say on the handshake controversy towards the end of the Manchester Test between India and England.

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Sachin Tendulkar (left) says Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar deserved their hundreds. (Screengrab/AP)

The scoreline of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy could very well have been 3-2 in England’s favour had it not been for some resilient batting from the likes of Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar in the 4th Test held at Old Trafford. After England took a sizeable lead, they reduced India to 0/2 in the first over itself on the fourth day of the contest. Captain Gill then joined forces with Rahul to repair the early damage with the latter hitting a century while Rahul making 90.

Their efforts were followed by an unbroken partnership between allrounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar with each hitting a well-deserved century. However, when it appeared that the contest is heading towards a draw, Ben Stokes offered a handshake to Jadeja to agree to a draw which was turned down.

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Jadeja and Sundar were nearing their respective hundreds when Stokes made the offer. When India turned down the England captain’s handshake, an animated discussion followed.

Stokes responded by handing the ball to part-timers Joe Root and Harry Brook and later said he wasn’t going to put his already tired frontline pacers in the firing line with the fate of the contest already sealed.

Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has now responded on the controversy, backing India’s decision while raising pertinent question.

“People are asking Washington scored a hundred, Jadeja scored a hundred (but) was it in the right spirit? Why shouldn’t it be? They were playing for a draw. Before that, when England was having a go at them – they negotiated it well," Tendulkar said in a video on Reddit.

Tendulkar said it keeping England bowlers fresh wasn’t India’s concertn anyway.

“According to me, the series was alive. So why should they (India) go ahead (to shake hands) and give the rest to England fielders and the bowlers? If they (England) want to bowl Harry Brook, it was Ben Stokes’ choice. That is not India’s problem. So, to me, it was absolutely fine. They were playing for a draw, not their centuries. If they had gotten outn when they came out to bat, we could’ve lost the Test. A few more wickets and we would’ve been in trouble. When they came out to bat, Harry Brook wasn’t bowling, right? Someone else was. So, why should England’s bowlers and fielders be kept fresh for the 5th Test? Do you have an answer for that? No!" he added.

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Tendulkar lauded Sundar for showing his versatility with the bat. When the need of the hour was to drop anchor and keep England at bay in Manchester, Sundar batted accordingly, hitting an unbeaten 101 off 206. Then at The Oval, he made a quickfire half-century to allow India to set a challenging target.

“I am absolutely with the Indian team, be it Gambhir or Shubman or Jadeja or Washington, they decided. I’m 100 percent with them. In the last Test match, when it was time to score runs, he (Sundar) accelerated brilliantly. Where it was needed to occupy the crease, he was able to do that in the fourth Test. And where it was about pressing the accelerator hard, he was able to do that in the fifth Test as well. So, well done Washy, I really enjoyed it," he said.

About the Author Feroz Khan Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital... Read More Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital... Read More

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First Published: August 06, 2025, 11:45 IST

News cricket Sachin Tendulkar Breaks Silence On Handshake Controversy: 'Why Should India Give...'

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