The handshake controversy between India and England at the fag end of the Manchester test has been at the centre of the cricketing world for the last couple of days with most siding with India on the matter. However, former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn appears to think differently.
With one hour remaining on Day 5, England skipper Ben Stokes approached India batters Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, offering a handshake to signify a draw. However, the two Indian batsmen refused, forcing the match into the mandatory last 15 overs. This led to a verbal spat between Stokes and his teammates targeting Jadeja and Sundar, but both Indian batsmen would complete their centuries before agreeing to the draw five overs later.
South Africa spinner Tabraiz Shamsi wondered aloud on X why such a big deal was being made about India not accepting the offer to end the match immediately.
Shamo this onion has many layers to it, and each one will make someone cry. The only issue I see here is the one thing people aren’t realizing, the batters weren’t playing for 100s, they were batting for a DRAW. That was the goal. Draw the game. Once that was accomplished, and a…
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) July 28, 2025
“Why is there such a big deal being made about the Indians choosing not to accept the offer to end the game in a draw immediately? The offer was made..the offer was rejected n they were fully entitled to make their choice. They got their 100s which they worked hard for. Game over,” Shamsi said.
To this, Steyn said, “Shamo this onion has many layers to it, and each one will make someone cry. The only issue I see here is the one thing people aren’t realizing, the batters weren’t playing for 100s, they were batting for a DRAW. That was the goal. Draw the game. Once that was accomplished, and a result was out of the question a handshake was offered, that’s the gentlemanly thing to do right? It’s not then the time to realize they safe and now say no we’d prefer some free milestones… although within the rules, just seems a little, well, odd. That said, they did bat well, and maybe with the last hour approaching they should have been more aggressive in reaching those milestones, at least then, we could all agree, no team tried to out do the other in this weird situation.”
Shamsi would defend India further saying that just because the option for draw was given, it did not mean that India had to take it.
Well I don’t think any one individual calls the shots for how long someone can bat, it’s just the rule that teams can shake with a hour left.
The game was Eng going for a win, India going for a draw, time says it’s pointless to play on, neither TEAM will win/lose so handshakes…— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) July 28, 2025
“Thats true ledge but I just think both sides have a right to make their own decision. Just because the option for the draw was given it doesnt mean the other team has to take it. If you wana call the shots about how long I can bat …get me out! tleast thats how I see it.”
Steyn, however, said that the final hour isn’t reserved for personal goals and India were any way playing for a draw so they might as well taken up England on their offer.
“Well I don’t think any one individual calls the shots for how long someone can bat, it’s just the rule that teams can shake with a hour left. The game was Eng going for a win, India going for a draw, time says it’s pointless to play on, neither TEAM will win/lose so handshakes and walk off. That final hour isn’t reserved for personal goals. As they say, there’s no I in team… That said, if it were you and me batting on 90 each, it would take a tank to pull us off that field! Haha,” he said.
