Former Indian opener and seasoned cricket analyst Aakash Chopra has reignited a nuanced debate in the cricketing world, this time targeting the disproportionate emphasis placed on personal milestones and honours boards at traditional venues. His remarks came in the aftermath of England captain Ben Stokes’ recent statement downplaying individual achievements, particularly centuries, during the drawn fourth Test against India at Manchester.

As the gripping India-England Test series heads into its showdown at The Oval on July 31, the scoreboard may read 2-1 in England’s favour, but the series has been anything but one-sided. India has shown immense character, especially in the latter part of the series, keeping fans on edge with some gritty fightbacks. However, beyond the on-field heroics, the series has also been laced with simmering controversies—none more talked about than the one involving Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Ben Stokes.

The controversy stemmed from England’s offer—initiated by Stokes—of a premature end to the fourth Test with around 15 overs remaining. At that point, India’s lower-middle order duo of Jadeja and Sundar had batted out most of Day 5, ensuring a draw and also inching closer to their respective centuries. The duo declined the offer, opting to bat on and complete their hundreds—something that didn’t sit well with the English camp.

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Ben Stokes later explained that he wasn’t chasing personal milestones but rather a sportsmanlike closure to a game that had reached a dead end. He even lauded Jadeja and Sundar’s resilience but questioned the need to push on for “just a century” when the team’s job was already done. According to Stokes, leaving the field after a well-fought 80 or 90, having saved the game for your country, holds just as much prestige as reaching triple figures.

But the Indian camp, including head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Shubman Gill, stood firmly by their batters’ decision. They saw no harm in allowing players to reach significant individual milestones, especially after battling for hours to secure the team’s position.

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Aakash Chopra didn’t let the irony go unnoticed. Taking to social media, he questioned England’s selective valuation of personal achievements. “If England believes individual milestones aren’t essential, perhaps it’s time to reconsider the massive hype around the ‘honours board’ at their historical grounds,” he posted on X. His comment subtly pointed to England’s long-standing tradition of celebrating centuries and five-wicket hauls at venues like Lord’s—a tradition deeply etched into cricket’s culture.

Backing Stokes, former English batter Jonathan Trott added that England would have accepted a similar handshake had India proposed it. But the debate rages on: are personal milestones vanity, or are they rightful rewards for perseverance? As the final Test looms, one thing is certain—this series has delivered not just thrilling cricket, but some thought-provoking questions about the spirit of the game.

If England is likely to promote cricket that doesn’t celebrate individual milestones, there’s merit in dialling down the hype around the ‘honours board’ in certain grounds. 🙌

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 29, 2025