“You’re not in the battle”: Former England cricketer backs Ben Stokes’ frustration during ENG vs IND 4th Test

The fourth Test between England and India of the ongoing five-match series at Old Trafford had all the ingredients of a thrilling Test contest. Massive runs, marathon batting efforts, and yes, a bit of drama that has now become the main talking point. With the match going towards a draw on Day 5 and Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar closing in on centuries, England skipper Ben Stokes offered a surprise handshake mid-session, suggesting both teams call it off early. India declined, and the game continued.

The English skipper’s move was interpreted by some as a sign of frustration. And it was quite natural because the players had been in the field for two long days with the chances of a win slowly slipping away. But the thing Stokes did in frustration didn’t go well with the viewers. Social media lit up with criticism, claiming Stokes lacked sportsmanship. But not everyone’s ready to pile on.

Former England batter Kevin Pietersen came out swinging in Stokes' defense. He took to his X account and tweeted, “2 days fielding and no result on the cards - you WANT to get off the field! You cannot have a pop at Ben Stokes for his frustration. Very easy to have a pop at him when you’re sitting in your lounge watching. You’re NOT in the battle. Leave the men in the ring to be emotional.” He didn’t just defend Stokes, he ended up slamming the critics on social media.

And honestly, there’s some weight to that argument. Stokes was phenomenal with his individual performance, delivering a sensational performance earlier in the Test, scoring a magnificent 141, and picking up a five-wicket haul. England had declared with a 311-run lead and were hoping for a positive result. But as India mounted a gritty response led by Jadeja and Sundar’s unbeaten tons, the game slipped into neutral. 

With bowlers exhausted and no realistic shot at a win, Stokes likely made a captain’s call to protect his squad and shift focus to the decider at The Oval. The match ended in a draw, leveling the series at 2-1. Now all eyes are on the fifth and final Test, which is a do-or-die for the Shubman Gill-led side. However, the ongoing injury saga has made the job a little tougher for the Indian side.