The cricketing world is currently witnessing a storm of opinions surrounding the renaming of the Pataudi Trophy, the prize for the Test series between England and India. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) jointly decided to rename it the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, honoring two modern legends, James Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar. However, this decision has been met with criticism, most notably from former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar.
Gavaskar has expressed his displeasure, calling the ECB's decision "lame" and "disturbing." He argues that prioritizing Anderson's name over Tendulkar's is disrespectful, given Tendulkar's seniority and unparalleled achievements in both Test and One Day International (ODI) cricket. Gavaskar believes the trophy should be named the "Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy" to appropriately recognize Tendulkar's contributions to the sport. He emphasized that Tendulkar isn't just a great Indian cricketer alongside Kapil Dev but is also senior to Anderson by more than a dozen years.
Gavaskar didn't hold back in his column for Sunday Mid-Day, stating that while the ECB is entitled to name the series as they wish, it grates on Indian cricket fans to see Anderson's name first. He highlighted Tendulkar's record as the highest run-scorer and century-maker in Test cricket, and his dominance in ODIs as well. In contrast, he noted that Anderson, while a terrific bowler especially in English conditions, doesn't have a record that comes close to Tendulkar's, particularly in limited-overs cricket, also noting Tendulkar's World Cup win, a feat Anderson hasn't achieved. Gavaskar urged Indian cricket enthusiasts and media to adopt the "Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy" nomenclature.
The Pataudi Trophy was established in 2007 to commemorate 75 years since India's inaugural Test tour of England. It was named after the Pataudi family, specifically Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, who represented both England and India in Test cricket, and his son Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, a former Indian captain. Gavaskar views the renaming as a "lack of sensitivity" towards the Pataudi family's legacy and their contributions to cricket in both England and India. Sharmila Tagore, wife of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, also echoed this sentiment, deeming the move insensitive and noting the family wasn't consulted.
Sachin Tendulkar addressed the controversy, stating that he did everything he could to ensure the Pataudi family's legacy was preserved. He revealed speaking with the Pataudi family, the BCCI, and the ECB to find a way to honor their contribution. Following discussions, it was decided that a "Pataudi Medal of Excellence" would be awarded to the winning captain of each series. Tendulkar emphasized that the decision to retire the trophy rested with the BCCI and ECB, and he acted to maintain the Pataudi legacy once informed.
Adding to Gavaskar's criticisms, he also questioned the decision to award the Pataudi Medal of Excellence to the series-winning captain, suggesting it would be more fitting to award it to the "Man of the Match" in each of the five Test matches. He argued that this would ensure the Pataudi family is remembered after every Test, and a separate "Pataudi Trophy" could be awarded to the player of the series.
In response to the widespread criticism, the BCCI has reportedly requested the ECB to reconsider the renaming or, at least, ensure the Pataudi legacy is appropriately honored. The ECB has agreed to introduce the Pataudi Medal for the winning captain. James Anderson has said he feels “very proud” after the England-India Test series trophy was renamed the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy. He mentioned Sachin is someone I looked up to when I was growing up and it is a huge honour for him, and he couldn't be more proud.
