ENG vs IND 2025: ‘In Test cricket, you want to be challenged’ – Washington Sundar explains how handshake row in Manchester fired up Indian team

India and England. (Photo source: X)

During the recently-concluded five-match Test series between India and England, several cricketers from both sides got riled up as the competition was fierce. Both teams didn’t give each other an inch and in the end, the series fittingly ended 2-2 as neither of them deserved to lose.

One of the many heated moments that emerged during the series was the one towards the fag end of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester, where Ben Stokes offered Ravindra Jadeja a handshake, requesting the Indian team to settle for a draw. However, with Jadeja and Washington Sundar nearing their respective centuries, the former decide to continue batting and therefore, refrained from shaking hands with the England captain.

This didn’t sit well with Stokes as he had a few controversial things to say to the Indian duo. Zak Crawley also chipped in with some aggressive remarks. Stokes brought Harry Brook into the attack and asked Jadeja whether he would be satisfied after scoring a century against the part-timer. Jadeja and Sundar went on to score their centuries before agreeing to settle for a draw.

Sundar, who had a first-hand view of the incident, suggested that such things often happen in any sport, especially when a lot is at stake.

“I mean, it just happens in any sport, doesn’t it? We’ve seen a lot of such things happen, not just in cricket, but in any sport. I mean, that’s how sport is. It brings out a lot. I think it was just an experience for all of us, honestly,” Sundar told Wisden.

Sundar, however, did admit that the incident fired up the Indian team, and played a major factor in the visitors drawing the series. The Shubman Gill-led side won the fifth and final Test match at The Oval by six runs to avoid a series defeat.

“One hundred per cent. You ask this to any player – that’s exactly what you would hear. Especially in Test cricket, you want to be challenged because that’s exactly what you expect every single day. And when the situation gets tough, the only thing that will help you get over it and come out successful is being really tough in your head,” he added.

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