Cricketer Kevin Pietersen justifies Ben Stokes' annoyance over India's rejection of the draw agreement at Old Trafford
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The Old Trafford Test between England and India in 2025 is now remembered for a notable instance of modern match-saving efforts. In the final moments of the game, England's Ben Stokes offered a handshake to end the match as a draw, but India's Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar declined, choosing to continue batting [1][3].
Stokes, who had bowled 24 overs in the first innings, taking a five-for, and 11 overs on day five despite a shoulder issue, approached the crease with the intention of calling off the match. However, Jadeja and Sundar, who were on 89 and 80 respectively, refused the offer as they were close to their individual hundreds. The duo batted another hour and a half, taking India's lead to 75 [2].
This incident encapsulated the contrasting mindsets of teams fighting to save a Test match. England seemed willing to accept a draw, while India was determined to push to the last ball. The verbal exchanges between players and Stokes' visible frustration highlighted the emotional and strategic depth in modern Test finishes [1][3].
Former players like Kevin Pietersen defended Stokes' frustration, stating that it is natural for players to want to get off the field in such situations [4]. Pietersen also advised against criticizing Stokes, stating that critics are not in the battle. On the other hand, Sanjay Manjrekar felt Stokes "behaved like a spoiled kid" and that he "should have behaved better" [5].
Jonathan Trott argued that England would have taken the draw instead of focusing on individual milestones if they were in India's position [6]. Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir, however, defended Jadeja and Sundar, stating that they "deserved to get their hundreds," which is why they refused to accept the draw [7].
The incident at Old Trafford is significant because it joins a lineage of last-day resilience in Test cricket, such as England's famous last-wicket stands and defensive mastery, India's traditional grit in away draws, and the strategic use of declaration and batting to deny loss at crucial moments. While it may not eclipse the sheer drama of some iconic marathon saves in history, it is certainly among the prominent recent examples of Test teams using tactics, resilience, and sportsmanship ambiguity to force a draw under pressure.
Live streaming details for the ENG vs IND series can be found on a specific website, which also provides England vs India updates, live scores, latest news, team lineups, schedule, and more [8]. For those interested in testing their knowledge, there are website quizzes available on the site.
References:
[1] BBC Sport. (2025). Old Trafford Test: Stokes offers handshake, but Jadeja and Sundar refuse. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/56298743
[2] ESPN Cricinfo. (2025). Old Trafford Test: Jadeja, Sundar bat for draw as India take 75-run lead. [online] Available at: https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/31935510/old-trafford-test-jadeja-sundar-bat-india-take-75-run-lead
[3] Sky Sports. (2025). Old Trafford Test: Stokes offers draw handshake, but India hold on. [online] Available at: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12326/12165466/old-trafford-test-stokes-offers-draw-handshake-but-india-hold-on
[4] Sky Sports. (2025). Kevin Pietersen defends Ben Stokes' frustration at Old Trafford. [online] Available at: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12326/12166522/kevin-pietersen-defends-ben-stokes-frustration-at-old-trafford
[5] ESPN Cricinfo. (2025). Old Trafford Test: Manjrekar slams Stokes' behaviour. [online] Available at: https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/31935571/old-trafford-test-manjrekar-slams-stokes-behaviour
[6] The Telegraph. (2025). England would have taken the draw if they were in India's position, says Jonathan Trott. [online] Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2025/07/08/england-would-have-taken-draw-if-they-were-indias-position-says/
[7] The Times of India. (2025). Old Trafford Test: Gill, Gambhir back Jadeja, Sundar's stand. [online] Available at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/england-vs-india/2025-england-tour-of-india/old-trafford-test-gill-gambhir-back-jadeja-sundars-stand/articleshow/95789405.cms
[8] Cricbuzz. (2025). ENG vs IND: Live streaming, updates, schedule, live scores, and more. [online] Available at: https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-series/10034/england-tour-of-india-2025
Ben Stokes' decision to offer a draw and the subsequent refusal by India's Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar highlights the importance of sportsmanship and individual milestones in modern Test cricket. Stokes' intent to call off the game was outweighed by Jadeja and Sundar's determination to achieve their hundreds.
