Former India captain Ajay Jadeja has backed Ben Stokes’ decision to retire from international cricket, saying the England all-rounder made the “right decision” and suggested the decision reflected his reluctance to let people outside the dressing room dictate how he should live his life. Stokes announced his retirement after one of the most illustrious careers in English cricket, a journey that included a match-winning performance in the 2019 ODI World Cup final, a memorable Ashes Test at Headingley later that year and several other memorable moments across formats. Reacting to the news from Sony Sports, Jadeja said he admired Stokes for sticking to his principles. “I think he made the right decision and I would go further. Especially for the captain of a country’s cricket team to be told what he can and cannot do at night, some people can accept that, but a talent like him will not be dominated by someone who is not on the field.” Jadeja added that he would understand if the instructions came from within the team and not from administrators. “If there’s someone in the locker room who wants you to do something, that’s another thing. But when the people who are running the game are trying to tell you how to live your life and what to do, I’m happy for it. I’m not happy that he’s retiring and we’re not going to see him play, but here’s a guy who says, ‘Well, this is it.’ He’s always been a controversial guy. His performance has been controversial.” Stokes retired less than three weeks after he was embroiled in an off-field controversy following England’s win in the first Test against New Zealand. Stokes and Gus Atkinson breached the team’s midnight curfew and were reportedly present at an incident at a London nightclub involving an ECB security guard and a Saracens rugby player. The ECB subsequently banned both players from the second Test while cricket regulators investigate, Joe Root Serves as substitute captain. However, cricket’s governing body later found there was insufficient evidence of any breach of ECB cricket rules and dismissed both players. The ECB also said that no one player should be blamed for the violence, confirming that Stokes was not involved in or witnessed the altercation and that Atkinson was the victim of an unprovoked attack and did not retaliate. former indian batsman Sanjay ManjrekarAt the same time, he admitted he was saddened by Stokes’ retirement and described it as the end of an era. “It’s frustrating to me that two of the greatest players of all time retired twice. Kane Williamson and Ben Stokes, and the surprising timing of his retirement. “ Manjrekar said Stokes’ greatness can never be measured in numbers alone. “Ben Stokes, I maintain, is not a guy who averages 50 or takes 600 wickets, but he has this unique ability to perform well on the big stage and win games for his country almost single-handedly, whether it’s Tests, ODIs or T20Is.” He believed that quality would determine Stokes’ place in cricket history. “This is the legacy he will leave behind and I’m very unhappy. People we admire and love to watch, we will never see them again. “ One of England’s greatest all-rounders, Stokes has played a decisive role in some of England’s major victories, including his unbeaten 84 not out in the 2019 ODI World Cup final against New Zealand, an outstanding 135 not out in the Ashes at Headingley later that summer, and an outstanding 135 not out against South Africa in Cape Town in 2016. A career-high score against South Africa in Cape Town.
