Would they walk off? Gambhir defends his batters for playing on

Gautam Gambhir, India's head coach, offered a strident defence of his side as Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar hit centuries in a bizarre finish to the drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford.

- Taha Hashim

After Jadeja and Sundar batted resolutely to rule out an English win, Ben Stokes offered to shake hands with 15 overs remaining on day five. But with both batters approaching hundreds - Sundar on 80, Jadeja on 89 - India continued to bat until both reached three figures.

Stokes, wishing to rest his frontline bowlers, brought on Harry Brook, who dished up some helpful offerings to the pair of southpaws. He conceded 24 off three overs, the contest concluding with Sundar reaching his maiden Test century.

"You hold your hands up, they played incredibly well," Stokes said. "But I don't think there would have been too much more satisfaction from walking off 100 not out, getting your team out of a tricky situation, than walking off at 80, 90 not out.

"Ten more runs or whatever it was ain't going to change the fact that you've managed to get your team out of a very tricky situation and almost saved your team from a series defeat before the last game.