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“Both Were In England”: Gavaskar Questions The Absenece Of Legends In Presentation Ceremony

Aakash Saini

Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson; Sunil Gavaskar [Source: @BCCI, @ImHydro45/x]Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson; Sunil Gavaskar [Source: @BCCI, @ImHydro45/x]

The inaugural edition of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test series ended in a fighting draw after Team India secured a nail-biting six-run win in the series-deciding fifth Test at The Oval in London earlier this month. As one can expect, Indian captain Shubman Gill and England skipper Ben Stokes both shared the trophy after the match during the post-series presentation ceremony.

It is worth noting that the eponymous legends of the series, Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson, were conspicuously absent from the presentation despite the trophy bearing their names. Their absence did not go down well with Sunil Gavaskar, who expressed his displeasure over the apparent oversight.

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Sachin Tendulkar and Jimmy Anderson were missing from the presentation ceremony of the first-ever Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test series played between England and India. Legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar has now expressed his anguish, stating that both cricketers should have been present at the ceremony to hand over the trophy to the two captains.

While writing for Sportstar, Gavaskar stated:

“This was the first-ever series named after Sachin Tendulkar and Jimmy Anderson, two of cricket’s greatest legends. One would have expected both to be present to hand over the trophy to the two captains, especially since the series ended in a draw.”

Sunil Gavaskar also recalled his own experience of not getting an invitation at the presentation ceremony in Australia earlier this year at the end of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series. He added:

“To the best of one’s knowledge, both were in England at the time. So, were they simply not invited? Or was this similar to what happened in Australia earlier this year, when only Allan Border was asked to present the Border-Gavaskar Trophy because Australia had won the series? Since this England series was drawn, perhaps neither was asked to attend the presentation.”

India won the fifth Test on a thrilling Day 5 at The Oval on August 4, with Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj bagging the ‘Player of the Match’ award for snaring a fighting nine-wicket match haul.