New Delhi: Sachin Tendulkar, a famous Indian cricketer, backed Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar for batting and finishing their century despite England captain Ben Stokes requesting a handshake and being prepared to draw the fourth Test in Manchester.
Tendulkar believed that Stokes' decision to have Harry Brook bowl was his decision and that it was not India's concern.
India secured a tie in the fourth Test at Manchester, but England captain Stokes approached Jadeja to shake hands and call it a day, but to his displeasure, Jadeja declined, choosing to chase his and Sundar's hundreds as they approached the three-figure barrier.
The series was still alive, so why should they proceed (and shake hands) and provide England bowlers and fielders a break? If England wanted to give the ball to Harry Brook, Ben Stokes made the decision. It wasn't India's responsibility, Tendulkar stated in a video on his official Reddit account.
During the final several overs, the hosts bowled spinners and even part-time bowler Harry Brook, hoping that JadejaSundar would wrap up quickly and save the English attack from further humiliation after giving up a 311-run lead, which became a 114-run deficit for India at Manchester.
To me, it was great. They were playing for a draw, not hundreds. If they had left when they came to bat, we may have lost. When they came out to bat, Harry Brook wasn't bowling, was he? So, why should England's bowlers be rested for the fifth Test? Do you have a response to that? No! he said.
Tendulkar stated that he supports the Indian team completely, regardless of Gautam Gambhir, Shubman Gill, Jadeja, or Washington's decisions. He also applauded Sundar for his furious fifty in the fifth Test.
Sundar struck a home run with his bat in the fifth Test in London. He hammered a huge maximum off Gus Atkinson, smashing the ball twice into the stands in the following over against Josh Tongue.
Sundar grabbed the lead over Atkinson by squeezing the ball for four, then easily smashed the ball for consecutive boundaries, continuing to destroy Atkinson. He got his fifty by blasting the ball over deep midwicket, causing it to disappear into the throng.
I am totally supportive of the Indian squad, whether it is Gambhir, Shubman, Jadeja, or Washington who made the decision. I agree with them completely. Sundar performed admirably in the final Test when it was time to step up, didn't he? In the fourth Test, he occupied the crease whenever necessary. And when it was necessary to press the accelerator hard, he did so in the fifth, according to Tendulkar.
Gill, India's youngest Test captain, guided his team from the front and ended the demanding Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy tied with a 22 score.
