Ben Stokes behaved like a spoiled kid during the handshake controversy: Sanjay Manjrekar

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has slammed the England captain Ben Stokes, stating that he behaved like a spoiled kid towards the end of the fifth and final day of the Manchester Test as both sides settled for a draw.

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Moving into the details, while Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja were batting close to the nineties, Stokes tried to shake hands with the Indian batters, as the result wasn’t possible at that stage. However, the Indian batters refused to give a handshake to the English skipper, as they wanted to continue the game and reach their respective milestones, which didn’t go down well with Stokes.

Later, Stokes brought in Harry Brook and Joe Root to the bowling attack as Jadeja reached his century with a six. In the 143rd over, Sundar reached his maiden Test century off Brook’s bowling. Eventually, the Indian batters shook hands and settled for a draw.

Manjrekar didn’t like the way Stokes handled the handshake situation, as the English skipper’s animated reaction didn’t go down well with a lot of people in the cricketing fraternity. Furthermore, the former Indian batter added that Stokes should’ve handled the situation in a better way.

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"Okay, fine, he's unhappy that the players haven't walked off, he’ll have to manage his overs carefully with main bowlers already exhausted from bowling long spells whole day. But throwing lollipops in the air and showing a little bit of grumpiness out there, that was Ben Stokes behaving like a spoiled kid,” Manjrekar told JioHotstar.

"I can understand him being surprised India wanted to continue. That was his question: 'If you wanted a hundred against Harry Brook, why not get it against the main bowlers?' And that was his grievance. But everything won’t go as per your wishes – he should’ve handled that better,” he added.

"It was Ben, the hero, the champion that I admire, on that occasion behaving like a spoiled kid," Manjrekar concluded.

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