India drew the fourth Test with centuries from Gill, Jadeja and Sundar and 90 by KL Rahul.
Tempers erupted and opinions clashed long after India and England shook hands at Old Trafford, as the lack of a handshake became the main talking point following the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy's drawn fourth Test.
On day four, KL Rahul (90) and Shubman Gill (103) had satisfied England with their 188-run partnership, helping India recover from 0/2 in their second innings.
Then, centuries from Ravindra Jadeja (107*) and Washington Sundar (101*) enabled them not only to rescue the Test but also to dominate the final day, finishing on 425/4 as Ben Stokes agreed to a draw.
The world took notice of Jadeja and Sundar's choice to turn down Ben Stokes' offer of an early draw with an hour remaining.
The England captain was displeased with the move, as were the England players, and Stokes sarcastically retorted, "You want to make a hundred against Harry [Brook]?"
Dinesh Karthik, a former Indian wicketkeeper, was not pleased about it.
“What’s with the English? At Lord’s, they didn’t want to come to bat and didn’t want to field after a point. And now here, they wanted to shake hands early. How does that sit well with you?” he asked during a post-match discussion with Michael Vaughan on Cricbuzz.
Vaughan, to his credit, took a measured stance: “Oh, if I’d have been India, I’d have done exactly the same. You’ve fought the entire day, taken blows, and worn bouncers from Archer. You get to 85, you stay out there. Shubman’s smile from the balcony said it all.”
Karthik continued, “Look, at lunch, India was down and out. People thought they’d be rolled over. But Gill and KL steadied things, and then Jadeja and Washington finished it brilliantly. Even the lowest scorer after ducks—KL Rahul—got 90!”
Vaughan agreed, noting how England, too, wouldn’t have acted differently: “If we had a young player on 85, no way would we have come off. We’d have said, ‘Get your hundred, then we’ll shake hands.’ That’s just the truth.”
He even found humor in the moment: “I will say this—Harry Brook might need to work on his front shoulder if he wants to keep bowling off-spin!”
The series is still in England’s favor 2-1, with the two sides facing off in the final Test at the Oval from July 31.