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Sunil Gavaskar Rips Into ECB For Putting Anderson Before Tendulkar In Renamed Trophy

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Sunil Gavaskar lashed out at ECB [Source: @ankitKumar12309, @mufaddal_vohra/x.com]Sunil Gavaskar lashed out at ECB [Source: @ankitKumar12309, @mufaddal_vohra/x.com]

Sunil Gavaskar isn’t one to mince his words, and once again, he has let his feelings be known. The Indian legend has taken a firm stand against the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) decision to rename the iconic Pataudi Trophy as the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

Sunil Gavaskar Bashes ECB Over Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Naming Order

And what’s rubbed him the wrong way even more? James Anderson’s name being placed before Sachin Tendulkar’s. To say Gavaskar is miffed would be an understatement.

In his latest column for Mid-Day, the former India captain made it loud and clear that for Indian fans, this new naming convention doesn’t sit right.

“The ECB is fully entitled to call the series by any name they choose, but for most, if not all, Indian cricket lovers, it is jarring to know that Anderson’s name comes first," wrote Gavaskar as quoted by The Indian Express.

In a no-holds-barred comparison, Sunil Gavaskar didn’t hold back while highlighting why Tendulkar deserves to come first. He pointed out how Sachin has over 34,000 international runs and a legacy that spans decades, while Anderson’s greatness was largely limited to home conditions.

“He is numero uno as far as runs and centuries are concerned in Test cricket… Anderson is third in the list of wicket takers in Test cricket, and his record is nowhere as good as Tendulkar’s in one-day cricket,” Gavaskar added.

He also threw shade at the idea of James Anderson being considered on par with the Indian maestro, saying,

“Jimmy Anderson was a terrific bowler, but mainly in English conditions, and his record away is nowhere near as good as Tendulkar’s is.”

In typical Gavaskar fashion, he also called upon the Indian media and fans to flip the script and refer to the series as the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy instead.

Gavaskar Questions Pataudi Medal Logic

The controversy didn’t end there. Gavaskar also questioned the logic behind handing out the Pataudi Medal only to the winning captain. He felt that the spirit of the Pataudi legacy was being sidelined in a half-hearted compromise.

“The announcement… said that respect would be given to the Pataudis by having a medallion for the captain of the team winning the series. Why the captain and what if the series is drawn?” Gavaskar wrote.

He suggested a better idea: awarding the Pataudi Medal to the Player of the Match in every Test and giving the Pataudi Trophy to the Player of the Series. That way, the Pataudi name would resonate across every match and not just be a side note.

As always, Sunny G isn't just speaking for himself; his words echo the sentiments of countless Indian cricket fans who grew up worshipping Tendulkar and associate the Pataudi Trophy with India-England Test battles.