British Captain’s Strategy Rejected – Jadeja and Washington Turned Down The Offer
Head coach Gambhir’s sharp retort: “Would the British have agreed to an early draw?”
Manchester – When Indian all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar brought Team India to the verge of a draw and averted defeat in the fourth Test, their decision to reject England captain Ben Stokes’ offer for an early draw — and instead complete their respective centuries — exposed the gamesmanship of the English side. Their memorable hundreds followed by the agreed draw will go down as a golden chapter in the 148-year history of Test cricket.
Ben Stokes had proposed drawing the match before Jadeja and Washington completed their centuries, but both Indian players flatly refused, leaving Stokes displeased.
Thanks to centuries from Shubman Gill (103 runs, 238 balls, 379 minutes, 12 fours), Ravindra Jadeja (107, 185 balls, 218 minutes, 1 six, 13 fours), and Washington Sundar (101, 206 balls, 298 minutes, 1 six, 9 fours), as well as a gritty 90 from KL Rahul (230 balls, 300 minutes, 8 fours), the British team was denied a win and India drew the match on its own terms.
The 4th Test ends in a draw in Manchester! 🤝
Tremendous display of resistance and composure from #TeamIndia in Manchester! 👏👏
Onto the Final Test at the Oval 🏟️
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/L1EVgGu4SI#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/GCpaWQKVfb— BCCI (@BCCI) July 27, 2025
Before both Jadeja and Washington reached their centuries (an hour before the scheduled end of the match), Ben Stokes requested to call the game a draw. Speaking to the media after the match, India head coach Gautam Gambhir pointedly questioned, “If the British had been in our place, would they have agreed to a draw before their batters reached their centuries?”
Gambhir openly targeted the English side, saying, “When a batsman fights that hard to save a match and one is on 90 and the other on 85, shouldn’t they be allowed to complete their centuries? Jadeja and Washington fully deserved their hundreds. They were writing history with their own hands. If it had been two English batters, wouldn’t they have wanted to complete their centuries?”
Further criticizing the British team, Gambhir added, “Jadeja and Washington pulled India out of deep trouble. What was wrong in letting them complete their centuries? Thankfully, they succeeded in doing so.”
In the first innings, India scored 358 runs, to which England replied with a massive 669, gaining a 311-run lead. But the Indian second innings — with Rahul’s 90 and centuries from Gill, Jadeja, and Washington — erased the deficit and added another 114 runs, leveling the contest.
When Jadeja and Washington refused Ben Stokes’ offer, Stokes sarcastically asked Jadeja, “So, you want to complete your century against our batsman Harry Brook’s bowling? Is that your intention?”
Jadeja calmly replied, “What do I say now? You decide what you want to do.”
Stokes later defended his decision, saying, “We did all we could to swing the match our way, but a draw was inevitable. With three days left before the fifth and final Test, I didn’t want to risk overworking my bowlers. That’s why I insisted on an early draw.”
Offended by Jadeja and Washington’s refusal, Stokes gave the ball to part-time bowler Harry Brook. Jadeja then hit a six off Brook to complete his century.