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Sunil Gavaskar Slams ECB-BCCI For Renaming Pataudi Trophy To Anderson-Tendulkar

Sakshi Sharma

Sunil Gavaskar talks about Pataudi Trophy (Source:@EpicDhoni,x.com)Sunil Gavaskar talks about Pataudi Trophy (Source:@EpicDhoni,x.com)

As India and England gear up for their much-anticipated five-match Test series set to begin on June 20, the decision to rename the iconic Pataudi Trophy has sparked controversy, drawing strong reaction from former India captain Sunil Gavaskar. The series will now be played for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, following a mutual decision by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Gavaskar Criticizes Rebranding Of India-England Test Trophy

The move to rename the trophy originally instituted in 2007 in honour of the late Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, has been met with backlash, particularly from Gavaskar, who shared his disapproval in his weekly column On the Write Line for Sportstar.

Calling the development 'disturbing', Gavaskar stated that replacing Pataudi’s name shows a 'lack of sensitivity' towards his contributions to Indian cricket, both as a player and a captain.

“The recent news that the ECB is going to retire the Pataudi Trophy, given to the winners of the Test series between England and India in England, is disturbing indeed. This is the first time one has heard of a trophy named after individual players being retired, though the decision is entirely the ECB’s, and the BCCI may well have been informed. It shows a total lack of sensitivity to the contribution made by the Pataudis to cricket in both England and India.”

The new name of the trophy celebrates Sachin Tendulkar, the highest run-scorer in Test history with 15,921 runs from 200 Tests, and James Anderson, who retired in 2024 as the most successful fast bowler in the format with 704 wickets.

“There may well be a new trophy named after more recent players, and here’s hoping that if an Indian player has been approached, he will have the good sense to politely decline — not only out of respect for two former India captains but also to avoid the same fate of having a trophy named after him retired after he is gone.”


“The ECB is fully entitled to name the trophy after one of their own players, but I, along with loads of Indian cricket supporters, fervently hope that any other Indian cricketer will have the smarts to decline, lest history repeats itself as it has with the Pataudi Trophy.”

BCCI Requests ECB To Honour Pataudi

In response to widespread criticism, the BCCI has taken steps to preserve the legacy of the late Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi. According to reports, the BCCI has formally requested the England and ECB to name one of the post-match awards in the upcoming Test series between India and England after the former Indian captain.