England captain Ben Stokes, who will miss the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series due to a shoulder injury, has addressed the much-debated “handshake controversy” that unfolded during the fourth Test at Old Trafford. With both sides now gearing up for the series finale at The Oval, Stokes was asked whether he regretted how things played out in Manchester.

Ben Stokes was clear in his stance: “No regrets. We weren’t in the field for 250 overs just for nothing. I understand where Jadeja and Washington were coming from. They batted really well and were close to their centuries—so fair enough if they wanted to carry on.”

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He added, “At the end of the day, I wasn’t going to push my bowlers in a match where we had no chance of winning. Injuries aren’t worth it. Both teams have moved on. Let’s not overanalyze a 20-minute incident in what’s been a fantastic series.”

The controversy ignited when Indian batters Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar turned down Stokes’ offer to call it a draw before the final hour of play, choosing instead to continue batting with personal milestones in sight—Jadeja on 89 and Sundar on 80 at the time.

Stokes, visibly irked, was seen having a word with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, even quipping sarcastically, “Do you want to score a hundred against Harry Brook?”

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Ravindra Jadeja, ever composed, simply smiled and said, “I can’t do anything,” respecting the spirit of the game and the rules that allow batters to continue. Eventually, both reached their centuries before the match ended in a draw.

With England leading the series 2-1, the Oval Test promises high stakes—not just for cricketing glory but also to cap off what has been a drama-filled series.