'That was just bravado. Just loud talk': Sunil Gavaskar slams Ben Stokes over drama in Manchester Test

First Post

3 days ago

Sunil Gavaskar praised India's grit in the fourth Test against England and criticised Ben Stokes for offering a draw while Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar were chasing centuries. Gavaskar also questioned England's declaration strategy. read more
Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has lauded the Indian team for their spirited performance in the ongoing Test series against England. Speaking on Sony Sports Network, Gavaskar said he was 'enormously proud' of how the team batted under pressure during the third innings of the fourth Test in Manchester, which India eventually saved by batting throughout the final day.
'I'm enormously proud of this team for what they've done. Just four wickets down. Yes, whatever the pitch might have been — good pitch, flat pitch, whatever it is — to stick around there under pressure,' Gavaskar said.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Also Read: India head coach Gautam Gambhir involved in heated altercation with The Oval's chief curator; watch video
Gavaskar slams Ben Stokes & Co.
Gavaskar also slammed England skipper Ben Stokes and his team for throwing tantrums after India denied his request for a draw at the start of the final session on Day 5. Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, who were batting in the middle, refused to shake Stokes' hands when he offered a draw. They told him the decision was upto their captain Shubman Gill.
Gill, who was sitting in the dressing room, didn't move a muscle when the incident was playing out in the middle. Gavaskar slammed Stokes for trying to end the game when Jadeja and Sundar were nearing centuries. He also questioned England's decision-making when it came to declaring their first innings, where Stokes himself scored a century and took time to get to his 150.
'And the question can be asked, Did England bat too long before they declared, because, you know when, when India gave England 600 runs to chase, 600 plus rush to chase at Birmingham, some of the England players, when they came out for the press conference later on, they said, but they were scared, and that's why they gave us more than 600 when I remember reading somewhere earlier on that you know, one England players that said, while they were in India, give us 600 plus. Give us anything, we'll chase. That's what India looked at. Give you 600 runs. But you ended up 336 run short. So that was just bravado. Just loud talk.' Gavaskar added.
Also Read: Washington Sundar's father accuses BCCI selectors, India team management of bias: 'Other players get regular chances'
India are currently trailing 2-1 in the five-match series and have just one game left to level it. They missed the chance to win their first Test series in England in 18 years by drawing the fourth Test. Now, the best possible outcome for India is to draw the series.