IND vs ENG | Sachin Tendulkar breaks silence on handshake controversy, asks ‘Why should England’s bowlers be kept recent?’ | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: India’s thrilling 2-2 draw within the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy towards England will be remembered not just for the cricketing drama throughout 5 onerous-fought Tests, but in addition for the off-subject debates it sparked — none extra polarising than the fourth Test handshake controversy in Manchester.The second in query got here when Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar declined England skipper Ben Stokes’ provide to finish the sport in a draw within the fourth Test, selecting as an alternative to proceed batting. The incident ignited widespread debate on social media, with followers and pundits break up over whether or not the transfer mirrored poor sportsmanship or strategic brilliance.

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has now firmly weighed in, providing full-throated assist to the Indian staff’s choice. In a video shared on Reddit, Tendulkar stated, “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, that was Stokes’ choice. It wasn’t India’s problem.”

He continued: “Washington scored a hundred, Jadeja scored a hundred. Why is it not in the right spirit? They were playing for a draw, not their hundreds. If they had gotten out when they came to bat, we could’ve lost.”Tendulkar’s defence of Team India didn’t cease there. He identified the strategic significance of denying England an opportunity to refresh their bowlers earlier than the decider at The Oval: “The series was alive. So why should England’s bowlers be kept fresh for the fifth Test? Do you have an answer for that? No!”Tendulkar additionally praised Sundar’s adaptability: “Where it was needed to occupy the crease, he did that in the fourth Test. When it was time to press the accelerator, he did that in the fifth. Well done, Washy.”Ending the controversy with conviction, Tendulkar stated, “I am absolutely with the Indian team — be it Gambhir or Shubman or Jadeja or Washington. I’m 100 percent with them.”