India drew the Manchester Test against England, which was the equivalent of a win. England was disappointed after drawing the fourth Test match of the series. In the midst of this, the team’s captain Ben Stokes has been the subject of controversy. Among the various comments, former Indian cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has attacked him the most. He has also called Stokes a ‘spoiled kid’.
The main incident took place on the last day. With 15 overs remaining on the fifth day, two Indian batsmen, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, were close to centuries. In this situation, Stokes suddenly proposed to stop the game, came forward and asked the Indian players to accept the draw by shaking hands. However, he got angry when India did not agree to the proposal.
The issue of ‘spirit of the game’ or ‘spirit of the game’ has come up in the discussion. Sanjay Manjrekar has openly criticized Stokes. He said, ‘What was seen in the end is the manifestation of the frustration of a team that has always shown dominance on its own field. Ben Stokes behaved like a spoiled kid. He really behaved like a small child.’
Manjrekar added, “Such a draw is very rare in the baseball era. It is the first time that a draw has been made without any weather hindrances against India. Stokes basically went against the spirit of the game by proposing to stop the game when the Indian batsmen were so close to a century.”
The stump mic picked up a conversation between Stokes, Jadeja and a few other players at the time of the incident. At that time, India was leading by over a hundred runs, with six wickets in hand. Both Jadeja and Sundar were set and close to centuries. In this situation, the decision to continue the game was natural and logical.
Another controversial incident occurred at the end of the game due to Stokes’ behavior. Young England cricketer Harry Brooke deliberately bowled like a drunkard so that Jadeja and Sundar could easily score centuries, which many people were annoyed by and called it ‘hatred’.
Manjrekar said in this regard, ‘Would Stokes have done this if two of his team’s batsmen were on the verge of centuries? I don’t think he would have offered to stop the game then. Jadeja and Sundar have been batting for a long time and have come very close to centuries. In this situation, trying to deprive them of the opportunity to achieve that is clearly against the spirit of the game.’
FAQ
Who is Sanjay Manjrekar?
Sanjay Manjrekar is a former Indian cricketer and a well-known cricket commentator known for his blunt and analytical views on the game.
Who is Ben Stokes?
Ben Stokes is an English all-rounder and former Test captain, widely regarded as one of the most impactful cricketers of his generation.
Why did Sanjay Manjrekar call Ben Stokes a ‘spoiled kid’?
Manjrekar reportedly used the phrase after Stokes showed frustration or questionable behavior on the field, possibly during a heated moment or disagreement with umpires or opponents.
In which match or situation did this happen?
The comment was made during or after a specific game (likely during the Asia Cup or a bilateral series) where Stokes’ attitude or actions drew criticism.
