Sunil Gavaskar has ignited a fresh controversy surrounding the newly instituted Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, which replaced the Pataudi Trophy for Test series between England and India held in England. Gavaskar's discontent stems from the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) decision to place James Anderson's name ahead of Sachin Tendulkar's in the trophy's title. The former Indian captain and legendary batsman expressed his views in a recent column, asserting that Tendulkar's achievements and seniority in the sport far outweigh those of Anderson, and therefore, the trophy should be named the "Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy."

Gavaskar didn't hold back in his criticism of the ECB's decision. He argued that it is "jarring" for most Indian cricket lovers to see Anderson's name prioritized over Tendulkar's. He emphasized Tendulkar's unparalleled record in both Test and One Day International (ODI) cricket, highlighting his status as the highest run-scorer and century-maker in Test history. Gavaskar also pointed out that Tendulkar was part of a World Cup-winning team, a feat that Anderson has not achieved.

Furthermore, Gavaskar downplayed the justification of using alphabetical order as the basis for the naming convention. He dismissed it as a "lame" argument, stating that there is simply no comparison between Tendulkar's overall contribution to cricket and Anderson's. While acknowledging Anderson's prowess as a bowler, particularly in English conditions, Gavaskar stressed that Tendulkar's dominance transcended geographical boundaries. He urged Indian cricket fans and media to adopt the "Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy" nomenclature to reflect what he believes is the rightful order of recognition.

This is not the first time Gavaskar has been critical of the ECB's handling of the trophy. Earlier, he voiced his disapproval of the decision to retire the Pataudi Trophy, which honored the Pataudi family's legacy in Indian cricket, calling it a "total lack of sensitivity." The Pataudi Trophy was initiated in 2007 to commemorate 75 years of India-England Test cricket. While the Pataudi legacy will be maintained through the presentation of a Pataudi Medal to the winning captain of each series, Gavaskar has suggested that the medal should instead be awarded to the "Player of the Match" in each Test to ensure continuous remembrance of the Pataudis. He also questioned what would happen if the series ended in a draw.

The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy is a joint initiative by the ECB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The trophy features images of both Anderson and Tendulkar and their signatures. Anderson has taken 149 wickets against India in 39 matches, while Tendulkar has scored 2,535 runs against England in 32 Tests. While both players have expressed pride in having the trophy named after them, Gavaskar's comments have stirred debate among cricket fans and experts. The core of Gavaskar's argument is that Tendulkar's achievements are of a higher magnitude than Anderson's.