Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has expressed strong disapproval over the recent renaming of the Pataudi Trophy to the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The change, announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), honors England’s James Anderson and India’s Sachin Tendulkar, but Gavaskar is upset that Anderson’s name appears before Tendulkar’s.
In a candid column for Mid-Day, the former Indian captain did not hold back his opinion, saying the decision is disrespectful to Indian cricket fans and doesn’t reflect the stature of the two players fairly.
Gavaskar Questions ECB’s Decision on Name Order
Gavaskar wrote that while the ECB has the right to rename the series, listing Anderson before Tendulkar is “jarring” for Indian fans. He emphasized that Sachin Tendulkar, alongside Kapil Dev, is widely regarded as one of India’s greatest cricketers.
“Sachin is senior to Anderson by over a decade,” Gavaskar pointed out. “He is the top run-scorer in Test cricket and has unmatched records in one-day internationals as well. In contrast, while Anderson is a fantastic bowler, his achievements are largely limited to English conditions.”
He continued by comparing the two players’ careers, stating:
- Tendulkar holds the record for the most runs and centuries in Test cricket.
- He has more ODI runs than any other player.
- Tendulkar is a World Cup winner, while Anderson has not achieved that feat.
- Anderson is third on the list of Test wicket-takers but lacks a strong record overseas.
Gavaskar also dismissed the ECB’s justification that the alphabetical order (A before T) was the reason for Anderson’s name being placed first. “That’s a lame excuse,” he said. “There’s simply no comparison in terms of what Tendulkar has achieved for his country. While I respect Anderson, as an Indian, Tendulkar should come first.”
He urged Indian cricket fans and media to refer to the series as the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy instead.
Gavaskar Suggests Better Way to Honor the Pataudi Legacy
In addition to criticizing the naming, Gavaskar also addressed the ECB’s plan to award a “Pataudi Medal” to the captain of the series-winning team. He questioned the logic behind it, asking, “What happens if the series ends in a draw?”
As an alternative, Gavaskar proposed a more impactful tribute to the Pataudi legacy:
“Why not present a Pataudi Medal to the man of the match in every Test and then the Pataudi Trophy to the player of the series? That way, the Pataudi name will be remembered throughout the series, not just at the end.”
The Pataudi Trophy, established in 2007, was named in honor of Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, who uniquely played for both England and India. It commemorated the rich cricketing history shared between the two nations. Gavaskar’s suggestion aims to keep that connection alive with consistent recognition.
