IND vs ENG 4th Test: 'You're not in the battle' - Ex-England batter Kevin Pietersen defends Ben Stokes
The fourth Test at Old Trafford ended in a hard-fought draw, but the closing moments of the match saw emotions run high, especially from England captain Ben Stokes. With the game heading towards an inevitable draw on Day 5, Stokes appeared eager to call off play early.
However, India, still chasing personal milestones, declined his offer, leading to a visibly frustrated response from the England skipper.
Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar both went on to score centuries, with Stokes even tossing the ball to Harry Brook in an attempt to wrap up proceedings quickly. Brook's gentle delivery was dispatched for six by Jadeja, who brought up his hundred. Later, Brook too offered to call it off before Sundar could complete his ton, but the focus remained firmly on Stokes' reaction.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
Stokes' decision and visible agitation didn't go unnoticed. Former England captain Nasser Hussain remarked, 'Stokes didn't have to bowl Brook, and it looked a bit silly at the end there.' Sanjay Manjrekar, former India batter, went further, calling Stokes' behaviour 'spoiled.'
India stay alive, England frustrated after draw; handshake drama at Old Trafford and more
But
Kevin Pietersen
came out strongly in support of his former teammate. Taking to X, the 45-year-old defended Stokes' emotional response, saying, '2 days fielding and no result on the cards - you WANT to get off the field! You cannot have a pop at Ben Stokes for his frustration.'
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Rare, Refined, and Ready Soon – Monte South is the Answer
Monte South A Joint Venture between Adani Realty and Marathon Realty
Learn More
Undo
He continued, 'Very easy to have a pop at him when you're sitting in your lounge watching. You're NOT in the battle. Leave the men in the ring to be emotional.'
Kevin Pietersen on X (Screengrab)
Pietersen insisted that while Stokes was right to feel agitated, it shouldn't take away from India's batting effort. 'The Stokes issue should NOT distract from the batters who batted to save the Test Match! Outstanding effort and one which makes The Oval a very important Test.'
Poll
Do you think Ben Stokes was justified in his frustration during the Test match?
Yes, he had every right.
No, he overreacted.
The draw leaves the series finely balanced heading into the final Test at The Oval. India will be on a high, buoyed by gritty efforts from KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Jadeja, and Sundar. England, meanwhile, will look to regroup and seal the series with a win.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
15 minutes ago
- Time of India
Travis and Jason Kelce step into wild UFC fight with Chuck Liddell in viral Garage Beer ad
Travis and Jason Kelce step into wild UFC fight with Chuck Liddell in viral Garage Beer ad (Image via Getty) Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce are stepping away from football and into the world of fun commercials. The NFL brothers teamed up with UFC legend Chuck Liddell for a new Garage Beer ad. The shoot happened in Los Angeles in July 2025, and early clips show a playful martial arts battle, full of jokes, laughs, and a surprise knockout punch from 'The Iceman' himself. Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce step into a fake fight with Chuck Liddell in a fun new beer ad Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce have teamed up with UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell for a fun new commercial. The shoot took place in Los Angeles earlier this month, and it's all for their beer brand, Garage Beer. In a behind-the-scenes video shared by TMZ Sports on July 27, 2025, the NFL brothers can be seen joking around with Chuck. Jason wears a white karate uniform, called a gi, and faces off with Chuck in a funny martial arts scene. Travis stands on the side, acting like a coach and cheering his brother on. The short clip ends with Chuck Liddell playfully 'knocking out' Jason with a fake punch. The full ad will be released on August 7. Fans are excited to see the full version, especially after seeing Jason's earlier karate-style ad for Garage Beer in March 2025, where he played a character called 'Brewmite.' Jason Kelce, Travis Kelce, and Chuck Liddell share laughs on set while promoting Garage Beer Jason, 36, retired from the NFL earlier this year after playing 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. Since then, he has been busy with other projects, including commercials and his podcast New Heights with Travis. Travis, 35, is still playing for the Kansas City Chiefs. He recently started training camp for the 2025 NFL season. Despite his busy schedule and public relationship with singer Taylor Swift, he joined Jason for the Garage Beer ad. Also Read: Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce Baby Name Reveal In Missouri Sparks A Viral Fan Frenzy Chuck Liddell, 55, is a UFC legend known as 'The Iceman.' He joined the brothers in Los Angeles to shoot the commercial. In the clip, all three are seen laughing, showing that the mood was fun and light. A TMZ source who was on set said, 'The Kelce brothers were having a blast. Chuck was all in for the fun. It was more about laughs than punches.' Garage Beer is part of the Kelce brothers' growing brand. Along with their podcast and fun ads, they've become popular beyond football. The commercial with Chuck Liddell is expected to show more of their funny side. It's not just about selling beer, it's about showing who they are as brothers, athletes, and entertainers. FAQs Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
NDTV
24 minutes ago
- NDTV
'Classless Gesture From Ben Stokes': Ex-England Star Hits Out At Skipper After Handshake Controversy
Former spinner Monty Panesar has criticised England captain Ben Stokes, stating that his gesture was "classless" when he forcefully tried to call a draw during the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford in Manchester. The incident unfolded on the final session of the fourth Test when Stokes tried to persuade Ravindra Jadeja to shake hands and call it a draw, but the Indian all-rounder refused to do so and went on to score his fifth Test century. His batting partner on the crease, Washington Sundar, also completed his maiden Test hundred. The duo was involved in an unbeaten 203-run stand that brought India back in the game after being reduced to 222/4 just before lunch in their second innings. Reflecting on Stokes' action in the middle, the veteran cricketer lashed out at him and said their rude behaviour is one of the reasons why people hate England. "Well, it lacked class. It was being, in England, we're being a bit pompous as well, so it didn't reflect good on them as well. They're good ambassadors of cricket, but I suppose you can see the reasons why people hate England because of the way they behave. That was a very classless gesture from Ben Stokes (on handshake controversy)," Panesar told IANS on Tuesday. After the unwanted incident, both Jadeja and Sundar completed their respective centuries and shook hands with the English players to call it a draw after a remarkable fightback from Indian batters, including KL Rahul (90), captain Shubman Gill (103) and the two all-rounders. England currently hold a 2-1 lead in the five-match Test series, but India have a chance to draw level by winning the final Test at The Oval in London, starting Thursday.
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Reinier de Ridder sparks UFC chaos after calling Abu Dhabi scorecard completely wrong in win over Robert Whittaker
Reinier de Ridder sparks UFC chaos after calling Abu Dhabi scorecard completely wrong in win over Robert Whittaker (Image Via X) Reinier de Ridder defeated former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in a split decision in the main event at UFC on ABC 9, which was held on July 26, 2025 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Two judges voted de Ridder 48–47, but one judge had Robert Whittaker winning by the same score. When the announcer read those scorecards, Reinier de Ridder looked visibly surprised. He had hoped to finish Robert Whittaker but couldn't, so the final outcome hinged on what the judges saw during those five rounds. What was Reinier de Ridder's response to judges' split decision After the fight, Reinier de Ridder spoke to media at the cage and said he was taken aback by one judge's card. He said, 'I was surprised one judge scored it completely wrong. I thought I had three rounds at least.' He added, 'It is what it is. I hoped to finish him and I didn't, so you never know what the judges make of it. But I'll be sure to finish the next guy again.' Two judges scored rounds 2, 4 and 5 for de Ridder, while one judge awarded rounds 1, 3 and 4 to Whittaker. According to media scorecards via nine of sixteen media outlets had de Ridder winning and seven scored it for Whittaker. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Foods and Daily Habits That May Help Support a Happier Back Read More Even after taking a hard punch and being knocked down in round 3, de Ridder landed more total strikes (192 vs. 70) and held Whittaker down for over nine minutes compared to thirty-six seconds, according to stats shared at the post-fight press conference. Robert Whittaker and Reinier de Ridder split fans and fighters after UFC Abu Dhabi thriller The fight was evenly matched and exciting. Whittaker had a strong early showing. In round 3 he dropped de Ridder and landed heavy ground strikes. But de Ridder kept coming back with knees, takedown pressure, and clinch control. He wore Whittaker down over the final rounds. Following the decision, several fighters and fans weighed in. Some believed the fight was tied 2‑2 going into round 5. Prominent names like Henry Cejudo, Islam Makhachev, and Alan Jouban sensed each combatant had won two rounds. Other UFC fighters, including Belal Muhammad, believed de Ridder deserved the triumph; Saidyokub Kakhramonov preferred Whittaker depending on his score. De Ridder is still unbeaten in his UFC run at 4–0 within the Octagon notwithstanding the dispute. The win puts him close to a top‑five ranking in the middleweight division. He has called for a chance at the winner of Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev, which is scheduled for UFC 319 on August 16, 2025. Also Read: Yes, Robert Whittaker knocked down de Ridder in Round 3 but lost on the scorecards. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
