New Delhi: Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson are set to be honored as the England-India Test series will be rebranded as the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, according to a BBC report. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have made this collaborative decision, with the trophy debuting at Lord’s during the World Test Championship final on 11 June. This change has led to discussions, as many are questioning the retirement of the Pataudi Trophy and its implications for cricket’s rich history.
The newly named trophy will first be contested when England and India start the new WTC cycle with a five-Test series kicking off at Headingley, Leeds, on 20 June.
Previously, the Test series in England was competed for the Pataudi Trophy, established in 2007 to commemorate 75 years since the inaugural Test between the two countries.
This trophy honored the Pataudi family, including Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, who was the only player to have represented both England and India in Test cricket, as well as his son Mansoor Ali Khan ‘Tiger’ Pataudi, a celebrated Indian captain.
Debate Over Name Change
The renaming has ignited a debate and reflects a broader shift in how Indian cricket views its traditions.
Former Indian captain Bishan Singh Bedi praised Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi as “the best thing to have happened to Indian cricket,” highlighting his efforts to unite players and foster national pride. Sunil Gavaskar and Erapalli Prasanna echoed these sentiments, with Gavaskar deeming him “the most charismatic cricketer of his era,” and Prasanna noting his encouragement for players to prioritize national unity over personal ambitions.
In a column for Sportstar, Gavaskar expressed that the decision to retire the Pataudi Trophy is “disturbing indeed” and emphasized that the retirement of a trophy named after individuals is unprecedented, even though he acknowledged it was primarily the ECB’s decision. He urged that if an Indian player is approached, they should respectfully decline to ensure history does not repeat itself.
Harsha Bhogle, a well-known cricket broadcaster, commented on the renaming, expressing his admiration for both Anderson and Tendulkar yet noting that it lacks the rich history associated with the Pataudi family.
Shashi Tharoor, a Congress leader, publicly criticized the decision, labeling it a “disrespect” to the Pataudi family while reflecting on cricket’s historic significance. Sharmila Tagore, wife of Tiger Pataudi, mentioned that they have not been directly informed by the ECB, but a letter was sent to their son, Saif Ali Khan, regarding the trophy’s retirement.
Upon confirmation of the news, it appears that Tendulkar is accepting the honor without resistance.
Recent examples like the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy for the upcoming England-New Zealand series in November and the long-existing Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia highlight this ongoing shift in cricket culture.
The forthcoming England series will challenge India significantly, particularly as they will be without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who both announced their retirements earlier in May. The tour will serve as a vital opportunity for emerging Indian players to impress selectors.
The announced India squad for the England series includes Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (vice-captain and wicketkeeper), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
