“Not being mature enough to acknowledge” - Sunil Gavaskar slams England players for not acknowledging Jadeja and Sundar’s centuries

Former Indian captain and commentator Sunil Gavaskar has slammed the England players for not acknowledging Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar’s centuries before both sides settled for a draw on the fifth and final day of the Manchester Test.

Moving into the details, Ben Stokes wanted to end the game in a draw with 15 overs left on Day 5. However, Jadeja and Sundar, who were batting in the 80s, were in no mood to shake their hands. 

Eventually, Stokes brought in Harry Brook and Joe Root to the bowling attack as the Indian batting duo reached respective centuries a few overs later and then shook hands with the English players. However, none of the England players acknowledged the Indian batters’ century performances, which irked Sunil Gavaskar.

"A majority of the England players not to be clapping when their hundreds were achieved doesn't really reflect well because they have to acknowledge the 80 plus that both of them scored. I know in modern day cricket, those kind of things are looked down upon as not being manly enough or not being mature enough to acknowledge another sportsperson's superiority,” Sunil Gavaskar said on Sony Sports.

“I can understand if Ben Stokes or Joe Root were little sarcastic about it but none of the others in this England team have scored enough hundreds to be sarcastic about the other batters looking to get their hundreds," he added.

With a 311-run lead in the first innings, England looked in complete domination of the proceedings. However, India batters KL Rahul (90), Shubman Gill (103), Sundar (101*), and Jadeja (107*) played vital knocks, scoring 425/4 in 143 overs before they settled for a draw.

With England leading the series 2-1, they will take on India in the fifth and final Test of the series on Thursday, July 31, at Kennington Oval in London.

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