R Ashwin calls out Ben Stokes for 'double standards', asks, 'would you give up your 100 for spirit of the game?'

R Ashwin calls out England captain Ben Stokes for 'double standards'. (Photo: AFP)

The final day of the Manchester Test had some nervy moments, but what caught the limelight was the incident when England captain Ben Stokes showed frustration over Indian batters Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar refusing to shake hands for a draw with one hour remaining. As Jadeja and Sundar built up a solid partnership of 202 to end England's hopes of a win, Stokes lost his cool and started attacking them verbally, asking Jadeja, "You want to get a Test hundred against Harry Brook?”

The England captain opted to bowl with Joe Root and Harry Brook in the last hour of the game. Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has come out and taken a dig at Stokes.

Stokes later explained that he offered a draw to protect his key bowlers from potential injury and fatigue. However, the moment drew widespread attention and debate in the cricketing community. Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir stepped in to support his players, emphasizing that India had every right to continue batting.

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“I am actually disappointed. He (Ben Stokes) should have asked his bowlers to bowl underarm like Greg Chappell. It would have looked nice. Please don’t talk about the spirit of cricket, sportsmanship. This is ridiculous,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat.

Scored a hundred, saved the Test, farmed  aura! #RavindraJadeja didn't hesitate, till the end #ENGvIND  5th TEST | Starts THU, 31st July, 2:30 PM | Streaming on JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/cc3INlS07P

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— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 27, 2025

“What is the rule? If both captains believe the game cannot head towards a result, they can agree to a draw. One captain wanted to close it out. Why? First, he didn’t want to tire his bowlers. Second, ‘I am frustrated. You should also not be happy.’ The second point isn’t in the rules. According to the first point, India was right. If I were captain, I would have played all 15 overs.”

As the final hour of play began, Ravindra Jadeja was on 89 and Washington Sundar on 80. Both batters went on to reach their centuries—Sundar notching up his maiden hundred in Test cricket, while Jadeja secured his fifth. The tense finish sparked a controversy, with R. Ashwin criticizing England captain Ben Stokes for what he called "double standards."

Ben Stokes refusing a handshake with Sundar & Jadeja isn’t “passion” — it’s poor sportsmanship.

You can’t preach spirit of the game and forget it when the fight doesn’t go your way. #RavindraJadeja #Jadeja
#INDvsENGTest #Sundar pic.twitter.com/QGzEKyb5LC

— Sagar Lohatkar (@sagarlohatkar) July 27, 2025

“Double standards. They defined it in the last ten minutes today. You’re frustrated you can’t win, so you fight with your players, punch the ball, do whatever. But by offering a handshake, you’re saying, ‘I’m frustrated, so you also don’t get a hundred. You also go crying.’ How is this fair? He’s battled since morning against Archer, Hoggard, Gough, Flintoff. Should he leave his century? Your question was, ‘Do you want a century against Harry Brook?’ No, he wants a century. Bring Steve Harmison, bring Flintoff! They wouldn’t say no. You’re bowling Harry Brook—that’s your mistake, not ours.”

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During the heated exchange, Stokes was seen having words with Jadeja, and England’s opening duo, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, reportedly joined in by sledging the Indian batters. Crawley was heard telling Sundar: “F***ing hell Washi, get on with it,” with Jofra Archer adding: “If you wanted a hundred, you should have batted like it earlier.” Sundar reached his maiden Test ton before the teams agreed to a draw after five overs.

Ashwin also took a dig at Crawley’s remarks, sarcastically labeling the Manchester Test as an "Indian win," despite the match ending in a draw.

“Zak Crawley told him, ‘If you wanted 100, you should have batted quicker.’ That’s his choice. You want quick runs and get out at 70? That’s your game. Zak Crawley or Ben Stokes, if you were batting, would you leave your hundred for the ‘spirit of the game’? I feel like laughing. It’s crazy. That’s why I say this isn’t a draw, it’s an Indian win.”