Aakash Chopra has taken a firm stance against England captain Ben Stokes following a heated exchange with Ravindra Jadeja during the final hour of the drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford. With the match heading toward a stalemate, Stokes suggested that India call off play—an offer that Jadeja politely declined as he, alongside Washington Sundar, was inching closer to a well-deserved century.

What unfolded next, however, ruffled more than a few feathers. “You want to score a Test century against Harry Brook?” Ben Stokes asked sarcastically, alluding to the part-timer operating at the time. Jadeja, unfazed, replied, “It’s not in my hands,” only for Zak Crawley to jump in and say, “Then shake hands. It’s embarrassing.”

But Jadeja and Sundar held their ground. They played out the final overs, not only steering India to safety but also reaching personal milestones by scoring unbeaten centuries before the teams shook hands.

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Aakash Chopra didn’t mince words while defending Jadeja’s decision to continue. “You want a hundred against Harry Brook? Well, you (Stokes) had the choice of bowling Jofra, Carse, or Woakes—and they did bowl for hours,” Chopra posted on X (formerly Twitter). “You still have the choice to bowl them or yourself to dismiss us. Who’s telling you to bowl Brook and Root? Whining about someone’s well-earned milestone is in very poor taste. Stop them if you can or stop moaning yourself.”

You want a hundred against Harry Brook?

Well, you had the choice of bowling Jofra-Carse-Woakes…and they did bowl for hours.

You still have the choice to bowl them or yourself to dismiss us. Who’s telling you to bowl Brook and Root?

Winging about someone’s well-earned…

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 28, 2025

India head coach Gautam Gambhir also chimed in, questioning whether England would’ve acted similarly. “If someone from England was batting on 90 or 85, would they have walked off?” he asked. “They weathered the storm and deserved their hundreds. It’s as simple as that. If you can’t dismiss them, you can’t dictate the narrative.”

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In the end, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington  Sundar’s grit—and the grace with which they handled the situation—spoke louder than any verbal volleys.