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"Leave The Men...": Pietersen Defends Stokes For Angry Reaction After Handshake Saga

Soumyajit Dutta

Kevin Pietersen and Ben Stokes [Source: @amirzyada/X.com]Kevin Pietersen and Ben Stokes [Source: @amirzyada/X.com]

Ben Stokes' visible frustration erupted on the final day at Old Trafford after Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar declined his offer to shake hands for a draw, choosing instead to chase personal centuries. With India safely avoiding defeat and leading by 75, Stokes sought an early end to the dead rubber, but the duo batted on.

The incident divided opinions, with Sanjay Manjrekar labelling Stokes "a spoiled kid" while Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir defended their players' right to milestones. However, former England legend Kevin Pietersen had a different say.

Pietersen Takes 'Emotional' Stand For Ben Stokes

Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen staunchly backed Stokes, citing the physical and mental toll of England's marathon fielding effort.

"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," Pietersen wrote on his official X handle.

His defense highlighted England's exhaustive workload as they bowled 143 overs in India’s second innings after 114.1 overs in the first, with Stokes battling a shoulder niggle throughout.

The clash underscores cricket’s enduring tensions between collective results and individual glory. While Pietersen’s "men in the ring" plea defends raw competitor emotion, India’s milestone pursuit highlights personal sacrifice in team sport.

India Fought For Glory Despite Dead Rubber

For the unaware, in the match, England roared back after India's initial 358, piling on a formidable 669 runs, courtesy of brilliant centuries from Ben Stokes and Joe Root. India's second innings started shakily, but the resolve of KL Rahul and Shubman Gill shone through with a crucial 188-run partnership.

Following their departures, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar then delivered an unyielding performance, forging an unbroken 203-run stand to salvage a hard-fought draw. This dramatic outcome keeps the series alive at 2-1 heading into the decisive final Test at The Oval, starting July 31.