India denied England’s draw request in the Manchester Test as Jadeja and Sundar neared centuries. Both reached the milestone, celebrated aggressively, and Gambhir defended the move, citing players’ right to personal achievements.
Manchester |July 28, 2025: – In a dramatic turn of events at the Manchester Test, Team India stunned England by refusing a draw offer on the final day, opting instead to continue batting and allowing Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar to complete their hard-fought centuries. The fifth day, which began with England needing six wickets and India looking to survive, ended in unexpected fashion — with Indian batters on top and the hosts visibly frustrated.
The game, which had reached a gripping climax, saw Jadeja on 90 and Sundar on 82 when Ben Stokes approached the Indian camp for a handshake — a traditional sign of calling off the match as a draw. However, orders from the Indian dressing room were clear: do not stop the game until the two batters reach their milestones.
For over an hour and a half, Jadeja and Sundar frustrated England’s bowlers and saved the match with their solid defense and resilience. Despite England having fielded for a day and a half, Team India declined to offer relief, standing their ground and forcing England to continue bowling. Eventually, both players completed their centuries and celebrated in aggressive fashion, adding fuel to England’s visible dismay.
Addressing England’s frustration, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir issued a strong statement: “If one of your players is on 90 runs and the other is on 85, don’t they deserve to complete their centuries? It’s their moment, and they’ve earned it.”
This bold move by India has drawn mixed reactions from the cricketing world, with many praising the fighting spirit of the Indian players, while some criticized the decision to prolong a match that seemed destined for a draw.
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