How Handshake Became A Meme After Ben Stokes and England's Antics: The Internet Saga
The handshake offered by Ben Stokes and England to end the fourth Test was rejected by India. Then, the Internet united in mocking the English team.
England were certain that an intimidating 669 they put up on the scoreboard in response to India's 358 at Old Trafford in Manchester would lead them to a series win over the visitors. And why not? India, in their second innings, had a horror start. After losing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan inside the first over on Day 4 in their second outing and Rishabh Pant already out owing to a freak toe fracture injury, England sensed an imminent victory. But KL Rahul and India skipper Shubman Gill showed incredible fightback.
The duo of KL and Gill put together an incredible partnership of 188 runs that uplifted the mood and confidence in the Indian camp. While KL departed for a 230-ball 90, Gill brought up his fourth century in the five-match series. The skipper posted 103 before he was undone by Jofra Archer.
India, now at 222/4, still had the entire day, the final day, to bat it out for a draw. England, on the other hand, sensed a series-winning victory after removing the set batters Gill and KL.
The determined pair of Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja were on a mission to save the match for the nation. The two brought up well-deserved tons. Jadeja scored an unbeaten 107 off 185, and his partner posted his maiden Test century. Sundar remained unbeaten on 101 off 206 balls.
However, just before the final hour of play, England captain Ben Stokes offered a handshake in hopes of ending the game. India politely declined the offer, with Jadeja and Sundar both gunning for their hundreds after a long toil at work. Stokes and the rest of the clan were visibly unhappy, frustrated, and pale after being rejected for a handshake.
The cricket fraternity was up in arms at England's poor sportsmanship display. Why deny the batters their well-deserved hundreds? Even England's former Test captain Sir Alastair Cook sided with the visiting side.
'It was the right decision for them to carry on for the momentum they'll get they gain from it. When you're out in the field, you've been out there for 140 overs, you get frustrated. So, there's a little bit of frustration for England, but I understand why India did it," Cook told BBC Sport.
The Grade Cricketer
The Australian writer-presenter duo of Sam Perry and Ian Higgins, aka The Grade Cricketer, led the mockery of the English team on the Internet.
'We can't get you out. Shame on you for batting. Shame on you. You're gonna bat, are you? You think that's right? Wow. You are gonna compete against us and do damage to us in a five-Test series? You think that's correct?"
Fans widely shared their hilarious banter, collectively agreeing that England dreaded the prospect of the two left-handed batters achieving their respective milestones.
Handshake Memes
As for the Internet, they couldn't wrap around to what had unfolded on the pitch.
'The handshake drama reeks of bullying. I felt that Jadeja was so consumed by his job of batting India into a draw, that he couldn't even reply to their taunts properly. Full marks to him and Washington for avoiding such petulance. Jadeja is a legend in my book, (sic)" a user on X wrote.
Ben Stokes , jadeja & handshake pic.twitter.com/BVNbnQdlY4 — memes_hallabol (@memes_hallabol) July 28, 2025
When Ben stokes offered to shake hands for a draw… pic.twitter.com/BFCRjl5gEi — Bengaluru Betala (@gururaj_mj) July 27, 2025
In the coming season, I plan to offer a handshake to opposing batters whenever I feel tired in the field.Declaring the opposition team's innings, could become the next big thing in moral cricket.
— Mohammad Isam (@Isam84) July 28, 2025
Ravichandran Ashwin, Kaif Drag England
India players were much more assertive in their criticism of the England team.
'Have you heard the term double standards? They played your bowlers all day, batted you out and suddenly, when they're nearing hundreds, you want to walk off? Why should they?" Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
'If I were the Indian captain, I would have played the entire 15 overs," he added.
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif in a sharp-worded condemnation said that he had lost all his respect for Ben Stokes.
'Ben Stokes has lost respect because of one moment when he wanted to stop the game," Kaif said in a clip on Instagram. 'Why would we want to do that? You weren't able to bowl out India, had nearly two days to do that. You weren't able to win. I don't understand what he was trying to do by getting the game to stop."
India great Sunil Gavaskar did not mince any words either as he called out England and their 'grumpiness"
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'Everything cannot be done according to what the England team wants. This is yet another example of that old syndrome: when we do it, it's right; when the opposition does the same, it's wrong. Those days are long gone, and no one, least of all the Indian team, is going to simply accept it," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar.
'Towards the end of the Test, a few grumpy English players were unhappy that the batters at the crease…declined the offer to end the day's play…," Gavaskar wrote.
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Anurag Verma
Anurag Verma, News Editor at News18.com, works independently for the Viral section. Bollywood, Cricket, Science, Tech, YouTube, Reddit, Meme Origins and everything Pop-culture are his forte. He covers humourous...Read More
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First Published:
July 29, 2025, 11:07 IST
News explainers How Handshake Became A Meme After Ben Stokes and England's Antics: The Internet Saga
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