India vs England Test 2025 Ends in Heated Draw

India vs England Test 2025: After the thrilling conclusion of a Test match, it was Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar’s decision not to shake hands with the England players that was the dominant news story after India had staged a remarkable comeback to tie the fourth match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy and avoid losing the series in Manchester. Jadeja and Sundar’s combativeness may have given India a lifeline in the series, but the off-field drama was the focus of today’s news.

India’s Shift in Fortunes

After back-to-back defeats at Lord’s and Headingley, India arrived in Manchester facing the possibility of heading home one match down in a five-Test series—the odds were against them as England set a formidable total in the first innings, putting the visitors under severe pressure. The situation worsened when the top order was blown out in the second innings, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan both going for ducks before lunch on Day Three, courtesy of Chris Woakes.

A combination led by KL Rahul and Shubman Gill turned the momentum as they put together 188 runs for the third wicket. Rahul’s defiant century and Gill’s composed 91 stabilized the innings and started India’s stupendous comeback.

Jadeja and Sundar Hang Tough

When England looked to be on the verge of victory after a string of quick scalps on Day 5, the pressure was in the all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar to provide ballast. The pair did not budge, absorbing England’s attack for hours while belatedly advancing toward individual goals.

Going into the 139th over, England captain Ben Stokes could see his bowlers were stretched so went to offer a handshake to agree a draw, but Jadeja was 89 not out and Sundar was 80 not out, and neither moved. The Indian pair were aiming for their centuries and they turned down Stokes’ offer which caused some tension between the two sets of players.

Where’s the Handshake?

Just one over later, Jadeja hit a six to score his fifth Test century.

With the crowd roaring, England’s Harry Brook then marched over to congratulate Washington Sundar with a handshake believing the game would end soon as well. Instead of shaking Brook’s hand, Sundar celebrated wildly with Jadeja.

There was more drama to come. Sundar, just short of his own century, carried on batting and got there after two more overs. Only at that point were the two teams able to make the draw official and shake hands- not before the distant cold shoulder stirred a good amount of debate and headlines in the sports news today.

Reactions and Repercussions

Some praised the resolve of the Indian pair to fight until the last run, while others questioned the sportsmanship of refusing a peace offering of sorts from the rivals. Social media came in hot and fast with a split opinion from fans and former players as they weighed in whether individual accolades were more important than the integrity of the game itself.

But regardless of where you stood in the debate, there was no denying the quality of cricket that was being witnessed. On the back of India’s brilliance, they showed great determination and calm to walk away from Manchester only 2-1 down in the series and a chance to square it up going into the final Test at The Oval.

The final Test of the Anderson – Tendulkar Trophy starts on July 31st at The Oval. With England still in front in a five-match series, there will be pressure for both teams. The momentum created in Manchester could be crucial for India- not just for the sake of saving the series, but for also placing a marker on the desire to maintain their grip over the mental advantage.

As conversations about fair play, resilience, and personal contributions rage online the Manchester Test has made its mark in cricket history—not just for the match itself, but for all of the news it produced off the field.

While India’s batters, particularly Jadeja and Sundar were indispensable for managing a draw, it was the handshake that grabbed the sports news headlines today. With cricket fans primed for the showdown at The Oval, it is clear that this series continues to develop—the drama continues, on and off the field of play.