Sachin Tendulkar reacts to the handshake controversy during Day 4 of IND vs ENG

Tendulkar has now reacted to the handshake controversy, where Jadeja and Washington turned down Ben Stokes’ handshake theatrics.

Sachin Tendulkar has broken his silence about the handshake-gate controversy during Day 4 of the India vs England Test in Manchester. During the final day standoff in the 4th Test, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar batted even after England captain Ben Stokes had initiated the handshake protocol.

Sachin Tendulkar reacts to the handshake-gate controversy.

Jadeja and Washington, while playing in their 80s, refused to settle for a draw without reaching well-deserved centuries. The sight of the umpires caught awkwardly in the middle as Jadeja and Sundar pushed on left many divided. A few also invoked debate on whether the Indian duo acted in the right ‘spirit.’ Many others criticised Stokes for forcing a draw after the duo had worked relentlessly hard to secure it. Sachin Tendulkar broke his silence on the same in a video posted on Reddit, “Washington scored a hundred, and Jadeja scored a hundred. Why is it not in the right spirit? They were playing for a draw. Before that, they battled it out when England were having a go at them, and negotiated it all to bat brilliantly.” He added, “The series was alive, so why should they go ahead (and shake hands) and give rest to England bowlers and fielders? If England wanted to hand the ball to Harry Brook, it was Ben Stokes’ choice. It wasn’t India’s problem. To me, it was fine. They were playing for a draw, not their hundreds. If they had gotten out when they came to bat, we could’ve lost. When they came out to bat, Harry Brook wasn’t bowling, was he? So, why should England’s bowlers be fresh for the 5th Test? Do you have an answer for that? No!”

Sachin Tendulkar says he is 100 per cent with the Indian team.

He further said, “I am absolutely with the Indian team, be it Gambhir or Shubman or Jadeja or Washington, whoever decided. I’m 100 per cent with them. In the last Test match, when it was time to accelerate, Sundar did that brilliantly, didn’t he? Where it was needed to occupy the crease, he did that in the fourth Test. And when it was needed to press the accelerator hard, he did that in the fifth. So, well done.”