Sachin Tendulkar on renaming India-England trophy: Pataudi legacy must be kept alive

Former India captain Sachin Tendulkar has said he did everything in his power to ensure that the legacy of the Pataudi family was preserved, after learning that the India-England Test series was to be renamed the 'Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy'. Since 2007, the two teams had contested the 'Pataudi Trophy' in bilateral Test series. However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that the trophy would be renamed from the 2025 series onwards.advertisementThe Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy was initially set to be unveiled on June 14, but the ceremony was rescheduled following the tragic loss of lives in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad."The Pataudi legacy has to be kept alive. The contribution of the Pataudi family to Indian cricket inspires us all. I spoke to the family and mentioned to them that I would do all I could to keep the legacy alive. I also spoke to Jay Shah, the BCCI and the ECB, and I shared my thoughts," Tendulkar told RevSportz.
As it turns out, the name 'Pataudi' will remain associated with the series. The organisers have reportedly decided to introduce the Pataudi Medal of Excellence, to be awarded to the winning captain at the end of each series.Tendulkar elaborated that all parties agreed on the importance of preserving the Pataudi legacy, and he did his utmost to ensure that outcome during his discussions with key decision-makers.advertisement"Thereafter, we had a second call, and it was decided to award the Pataudi Medal of Excellence to the winning captain. You need to understand that the decision on retiring the trophy rested with the BCCI and the ECB, and once I was informed, I did all I could to ensure the legacy was kept intact," he said.The initial decision to rename the series sparked criticism from several former cricketers, including Sunil Gavaskar, who questioned the need for the change. Celebrated cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle remarked that the rebranding had taken away the emotional connection the Pataudi family held with both countries.The Pataudi family has a storied cricketing heritage that bridges India and England. Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi uniquely represented both nations, while his son, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, captained India in 40 Tests and led the team to their first-ever overseas series win, in New Zealand in 1967.Meanwhile, England's veteran fast bowler James Anderson expressed pride in the rebranded trophy, which now carries his name alongside that of one of his cricketing heroes."I remember watching him-an absolute legend of the game-and I played against him a lot as well. So to have this trophy named after us is a huge honour for me, and I couldn't be more proud," Anderson said.advertisementTendulkar and Anderson faced off in 14 Tests during their illustrious careers, each redefining the boundaries of the game in their own right. Tendulkar ended his career with a world-record 15,921 Test runs, while Anderson became the first fast bowler to surpass the 700-wicket milestone in Test cricket. Now 42, Anderson continues to play in the County Championship, despite retiring from international Test cricket in 2024.The upcoming five-Test series between India and England begins on 20 June at Headingley, with Shubman Gill and Ben Stokes leading two youthful, ambitious sides into a new era.Must Watch

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Lalith also writes the weekly stats-based cricket column - 'Stats Corner'. A former cricketer who has played in state-level tournaments in Kerala, he has over three years of experience as a sports journalist. Lalith also covered the 2023 ODI World Cup held in India. ... Read More