Batting icon Sunil Gavaskar didn’t mince words as he took a dig at the English team’s behavior during the final stages of the drawn fourth Test in Manchester. The former India captain slammed England’s “grumpiness” after Indian batters Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar declined a mutual offer to end play early on Day 5, choosing instead to complete their well-deserved centuries. According to Gavaskar, England’s frustration reflected a long-standing mindset — expecting the game to revolve around their preferences.

In his column for Sportstar, Sunil Gavaskar wrote, “Everything cannot be done according to what the England team wants. This is yet another example of that old syndrome: when we do it, it’s right; when the opposition does the same, it’s wrong. Those days are long gone, and no one, least of all the Indian team, is going to simply accept it.”

Ben Stokes and his team appeared visibly annoyed when Jadeja and Sundar continued batting despite England’s suggestion to call off play. But Gavaskar defended the Indian pair, emphasizing the value of a Test century and questioning England’s tactics in using part-time bowlers like Harry Brook to speed up the game.

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“If England were serious about stopping them, they should’ve used proper bowlers, not turned to part-timers and then whined about the outcome. You can’t deny players a chance at a milestone like a Test hundred — it doesn’t come every day,” Sunil Gavaskar pointed out.

He further argued that it was completely within India’s rights to decide whether or not to end the game early, especially after showing immense resolve against England’s main bowlers for over four hours.

Gavaskar added that, had he been in charge, he would’ve instructed his players to continue batting till stumps — particularly in response to England’s visible displeasure. “If I were the captain, I’d have told them to keep batting, tire out the fielders further, and make a statement — especially after those shenanigans from the English camp,” he wrote.

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He also noted that England may have miscalculated strategically. “The light was fading, and the floodlights were on. If England had brought back Jofra Archer or Brydon Carse, the umpires might’ve stepped in due to bad light — perhaps a trick they missed in the end.”

Ultimately, Sunil Gavaskar stood firmly behind the Indian batters’ decision — and delivered a reminder that cricket is still a contest between two teams, not a one-sided affair.