What happened at the end of the India-England Test?
The final day of the India vs England Test at Old Trafford had all the drama you’d expect from a long series — but the biggest talking point wasn’t the score. It was a simple handshake that didn’t happen. Or, more accurately, didn’t happen when some people thought it should.
As the match moved toward a draw, England captain Ben Stokes offered to end things early — a common courtesy gesture in Test cricket. But India’s Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, who were batting at the time, chose not to accept it.
So… why?
The simple reason: they were close to a century
Turns out, both batters had a clear reason: they were close to personal milestones. Jadeja was nearing his fifth Test hundred, and Sundar was on the verge of his first-ever Test century.
Rather than shaking hands and walking off, they kept batting. No drama. No arguments. Just a quiet decision to finish what they had started.
And honestly, can you blame them?
What India’s captain said after the match
India’s stand-in captain Shubman Gill explained it clearly in the post-match chat.
“It was up to the boys in the middle. Both deserved their centuries. They earned it.”
That pretty much sums it up. Jadeja and Sundar weren’t trying to be disrespectful — they just wanted to finish their innings the right way.
Did Ben Stokes walk off without shaking hands?
A video started going viral after the match that showed Stokes walking past the Indian batters, leading many fans to assume he was upset and ignored them on purpose.
But here’s the truth: that clip didn’t show the full picture.
Several other videos later confirmed that Stokes did shake hands with the players, just not in that exact moment. So no, there wasn’t any real bad blood.
Even former England captain Michael Vaughan jumped in to set the record straight, saying people were reading too much into a partial video.
Critics still had opinions.
Not everyone agreed with India’s choice to keep batting. Former fast bowler Dale Steyn suggested it felt like “chasing free milestones” when the game was already heading toward a draw.
But others saw it differently, saying it was fair for players to go for centuries they had worked hard for.
Cricket is still a personal and emotional game. These players spend hours under pressure. If they want to finish strong, who are we to argue?
Final thoughts: No harm done
This wasn’t about drama or disrespect — it was about discipline and quiet determination. In a series where both sides have shown grit, this moment wasn’t a controversy; it was just two players staying focused, finishing what they started. The milestones were reached. The handshakes happened. And cricket — in its own patient way — reminded us why we love this game.
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