Former England cricketer and legend Geoffrey Boycott has thrown his weight behind Indian batters Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar for deciding to continue batting in the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford despite Ben Stokes' call for an early draw. The fourth Test, which resulted in a draw, witnessed a lot of dramatic moments. The most conspicuous moment came when England captain Ben Stokes made a controversial move—offering a handshake and an early draw with nearly an hour still left. Indian players Jadeja and Sundar, approaching triple figures, turned down Stokes’ offer and continued batting. They both played a key role in guiding India out of trouble, bringing up their centuries.

"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 do, 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 in his column for 'The Telegraph'.

Geoffrey lauded both Jadeja (107*) and Sundar (101*), saying they deserved their hundreds. Both players led India’s recovery, forging a 203-run partnership.

"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." 

Geoffrey also pinpointed the sledging, saying it was never there during his playing days. 

"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.