'What goes around comes around....' - Former England legend supports India after final moment drama of fourth Test

Former England captain Geoffrey Boycott strongly criticised the Ben Stokes-led England side for their on-field behaviour during the tense final moments of the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Old Trafford. The drama unfolded when Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar declined Stokes’ offer to end the match early with a draw. Despite the match heading towards a stalemate, the Indian pair, then on 89 and 80, not only refused the handshake but continued batting, a move that visibly frustrated the England camp during the final hour of Day 5.

In his column for The Telegraph, Boycott defended Jadeja and Sundar’s decision, praising their resilience and composure after India’s extraordinary fightback from a 311-run first-innings deficit. He argued that the Indian batters had every right to continue, especially given their pivotal role in rescuing the Test. Boycott dismissed England's frustrations as unnecessary, pointing out that cricketing rules allowed the match to continue and that the duo’s actions were entirely within the spirit of the game.

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"What goes around comes around. England were gobby enough when it suited them, so you can't blame India for wanting to stay on and allow two batsmen who had worked their socks off to reach their hundreds. If you give it, like England does, then you have to be able to take it. I could hear them through the stump mics chipping away at India, so why should they be nice to them and agree to go off when England have had enough?," Boycott wrote.

They do not take a backward step: Boycott

Former England captain Geoffrey Boycott also praised the mental strength shown by the Indian players, stating that he would have made the same decision if he were in their position. The legendary England batter commended their determination and resilience under pressure. Boycott didn’t shy away from criticising the current generation of cricketers, accusing them of relying too heavily on sledging and psychological tactics. The right-hand batter remarked that such behaviour contrasts sharply with the standards and sportsmanship upheld during his playing days, implying that modern players often stray from the true spirit of the game.

"These India players are tough cookies. They do not take a backward step. There is no way I would have let anyone drag me off on 89 after I had worked hard all day to save the game for my team. Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar deserved their hundreds. They left the ball well, played with the full face of the bat, and defended their wickets at all costs. Well done. I'm not sure what it is with modern players. You hear a lot of them mouthing off. It never really happened when I was playing. It will carry on at the Oval and India will go there thinking they got a win at Old Trafford," he wrote.