The upcoming Test series between India and England, beginning June 20, will now be contested for the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy, as per a report by BBC.com. The new title honors two legends—Sachin Tendulkar, the highest run-scorer in Test cricket with 15,921 runs, and James Anderson, England’s all-time leading wicket-taker with 704 Test wickets. Tendulkar retired in 2013, while Anderson ended his career in 2024.
End of the Pataudi Trophy Era
Since 2007, the Pataudi Trophy had been awarded to the winner of the England-hosted India vs England Test series. Named to mark 75 years of their first Test encounter, the trophy paid tribute to the Pataudi family’s contributions to cricket in both nations.
For Test series held in India, the Anthony de Mello Trophy—named after a former BCCI president—remains the title in use.
Backlash from Gavaskar and Tagore
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar iticized the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for retiring the Pataudi Trophy, calling it a “disturbing” and “insensitive” move. In a Sportstar column, Gavaskar questioned the logic of retiring a trophy named after individuals and hoped that no Indian cricketer would accept similar naming honors out of respect for legacy and history.
Actor Sharmila Tagore, widow of the late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, also expressed disappointment. “I haven’t heard from them, but the ECB has sent a letter to Saif (Ali Khan) that they are retiring the trophy,” she told Hindustan Times, adding that it’s up to the BCCI to decide how to honor Tiger Pataudi’s legacy.
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