The climactic Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series finished on Monday at Kennington Oval with India producing a heart-stopping 6-run victory to tie the series 2-2.
The electrifying scoreline was a perfect representation of the intense cricket played over 25 grueling days. Although the series provided high theatrics and peer-class performances, it was also marred by controversies, most spectacularly concerning the dramatic finish of the fourth Test in Manchester.
One such incident that gained huge attention was Ravindra Jadeja rejecting England skipper Ben Stokes' offer to declare the match as a draw. The incident became a major topic of discussion on all social media platforms within a very short time, attracting polarized reactions from fans, pundits, and retired players.
Cricket great Sachin Tendulkar has now entered the fray, speaking strongly in support of Jadeja and fellow all-rounder Washington Sundar's choice to continue playing.
"Washington batted a hundred, Jadeja batted a hundred. How is it that they are not in the right spirit? They were playing for a draw. Earlier, they fought when England were trying to have a go at them, and negotiated it all to bat so well," Tendulkar explained in a video analysis posted on Reddit.
He continued by wondering why they were being criticized, as the Indian pair had every right to continue. "The series was alive, so why should they proceed (and shake hands) and rest England bowlers and fielders? If England wished to pass the ball to Harry Brook, it was Ben Stokes' decision. It was not India's issue. To me, it was okay. They were batting for a draw, not their hundreds. If they had been dismissed upon coming to bat, we could have lost.". When they took to batting, Harry Brook wasn't bowling, was he? So why should England's bowlers be fresh for the 5th Test? Have you got an answer for that? No!" he asserted firmly.
While some former players contended that carrying on with batting after the draw was virtually assured was of no practical use, Tendulkar asserted that he supported India's decision-makers, including stand-in captain Shubman Gill.
"I am completely with the Indian team, whether it is Gambhir or Shubman or Jadeja or Washington, whoever took the call. I'm 100 percent with them. In the previous Test match, when there was a need to kick-start the accelerator, Sundar did it so wonderfully, didn't he? Where it was required to keep occupying the crease, he did that in the fourth Test. And where it was required to press the accelerator hard, he did it in the fifth. So, well done," opined the legendary batsman.
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