"Will Honour Leadership, Legacy": Sachin Tendulkar On 'Pataudi Medal Of Excellence'

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar said it was a deeply meaningful moment for him to help preserve the Pataudi family's legacy in the storied India-England Test rivalry. Although the series will now be contested for the newly named Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, a separate honour, the Pataudi Medal of Excellence, will be awarded to the winning captain of the series. Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi and his son Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi had both captained India, and in their honour, the India-England series used to be called the Pataudi Trophy.
The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, a joint initiative between the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), will now represent all future Test series between England and India. Previously, the series in England was played for the Pataudi Trophy and the series in India for the Anthony De Mello Trophy.
Tendulkar revealed that he had proactively approached the ECB, the BCCI, and ICC Chairman Jay Shah to request that the Pataudi legacy should not be forgotten. He said that it was "unanimously decided" that the Pataudi Medal of Excellence should be awarded to the winning captain of the series.
The Master Blaster took the initiative to propose a tribute that would keep the Pataudi family's legacy alive even as the format evolved.
"I said, I'll come back to you on this and I spoke to Mr Jay Shah. I spoke to BCCI, ECB, and shared some ideas. Over a period of time, a few phone calls and we unanimously decided that the Pataudi Medal of Excellence should be awarded to the winning captain because he was known for leadership. This would be a good match," he added.
"It was heartwarming to know that we've kept the legacy alive. It is important that it's remembered in a way, the way it's meant to be. I've always respected my seniors and I've always valued their contribution to our country," Tendulkar said.
He underlined the importance of honouring the foundation laid by legends of the past, saying, "The foundation was built then and on that foundation, multiple things have happened over a period of time. Hopefully, what the newer generation constructs would be something that over a period of time, we'll look back and be proud of. We cannot forget our heroes."
"All in all, was indeed a positive outcome. Not just the trophy named after the two of us, but also Mr. Pataudi's legacy is very much alive," he noted.
Speaking on having his name etched on the new trophy, Tendulkar said, "I think when the Pataudi Trophy was retired, I was travelling... I heard about it, the decision by ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) and BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) to retire that and start a new trophy altogether. So, the new trophy, the first time I got to know about it was, I think, just some time ago, last month, where ECB, BCCI decided to name this trophy after both of us. It's a nice recognition, I thought, of our contributions to our respective nations in Test cricket."
James Anderson, whose name is also there, is considered one of the finest exponents of swing bowling, took 704 Test wickets, the most by a fast bowler in the format. The Lancashire seamer ranks third on the all-time list, behind only spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne.
Tendulkar, one of the most complete batters to have graced the game, remains the highest run-scorer in Test history with 15,921 runs. He made his debut at the age of 16 and went on to enjoy a distinguished 24-year international career, during which he played a pivotal role in India's success against every other Test-playing nation.
Both Anderson and Tendulkar are widely regarded as all-time greats. They are the most-capped players in the history of Test cricket, Tendulkar played 200 matches, and Anderson 188.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

India.com

27 minutes ago

• India.com

Sachin Tendulkar gives advise to India's new Test skipper Shubman Gill, says 'don't worry about the outside world'

Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson pose alongside the new Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy New Delhi: Indian cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar has been extremely confident about the young Team India that has flown to England to play an eagerly-awaited five-match Test series against host England, which will kick off this Friday at Headingley in Leeds. He believes in the potential of his squad much like he also once believed 23 years ago when he made a brilliant 193 in the overwhelming India innings and 46-run victory over Nasser Hussain led England, at the same ground in which current Indian squad will now face Ben Stokes and his squad. Sachin Tendulkar in an interview given to mid-day rubbished speculations made by some detractors that the present Indian team is inexperienced. He added that the Indian cricket has a rich heritage of developing and moving through new groups, and this team is not going to be any different in this respect. Sachin Tendulkar has provided a piece of advice to the new captain of the Indian Test team, Shubman Gill, and assures him that he should not be afraid to take a risk and do anything bold because of the opinion of other people. 'It's a new phase in his life. He looked comfortable when I saw him in the IPL [leading Gujarat Titans]. Under his leadership, this is a great opportunity for this team. They can write a nice, new chapter in Indian cricket, which people, years down the line, will remember. It will be nice to look back and say, this was a good phase of Indian cricket.' said Sachin Tendulkar.

Indian Express

29 minutes ago

• Indian Express

STATS CORNER: Behind India's Test bowling arsenal suffering a decisive plunge in away performances since Edgbaston 2022

It is peculiar to look back on India's last Test in England in 2022 and now observe the quiet unravelling of what was a fine away-bowling machinery at its peak, back to its run-of-the-mill days. A day-and-a-half at Edgbaston, defending 377, progressively slipped from India's grasp as the struggles of their change pacers – Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur – seeped into a second successive innings. Ravindra Jadeja's holding presence barely stubbed England's record chase. Even Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami floundered during India's first 'Bazball' sighting. Three years on, the one-off 2022 pounding that cost India their first Test series win on English soil since 2007 would most likely form the early themes of Shubman Gill's new-age Test side away from home. Edgbaston was the tipping point from where India's Test bowling arsenal suffered a decisive plunge in away performances. With no Shami around to soften the load and the precious Bumrah recalibrated to play perhaps just three Tests over the next seven weeks, India's bowling attack will be one of varying strengths and experience between Friday's Leeds initiation and The Oval finish in August. For the fragility that now binds both the batting and bowling groups, it is India's highest active Test run-scorer and wicket-taker – Jadeja – who will likely survive as the most consistent pick across the five-Test spread of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. It also brings the sharpest challenge to the defensive reputation of India's most successful left-arm spinner against England's Bazball-infused batters. Under the Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum captain-coach combine since 2022, England's top seven batters have averaged 43.86, the best among all teams in home Tests. But their frenetic 73.31 strike rate has caused more headaches in the opposition camps, one that also hampers India with a bunch of profligate and untested bowlers, warped around Bumrah and Jadeja. Edgbaston '22 also serves as a reference to Jadeja's innocuous bowling presence on strips that allow batters to bend scoring rates at their wont. Bowling 18.4 overs, Jadeja went for 62 without a wicket, conceding 3.32 runs per over. Incidentally, only twice has the 36-year-old bowled more overs at a higher economy in an away Test in the last five years, occurring in his most recent Test outings in Melbourne and Brisbane in late 2024. England's not been a paradise for spinners either, not for anybody barring Australia's Nathan Lyon in the World Test Championship era at least. Of the 98 English wickets felled by 17 visiting spinners in the last six years, 29 belong to Lyon with Jadeja's abysmal 143.6 strike rate, bowling 143.4 overs, ranking the poorest. Lyon remains the only finger-spinner capable of posing a match-winning presence, gathering 20 of all 32 wickets registered by visiting spinners in victories in England since 2019. And even he struggled last week to make an impact during Australia's WTC Final defeat against South Africa. While India could swap between Jadeja and Washington Sundar for the finger-spinning all-rounder role at number six, the lack of a solid pace core means attempts at a rare attacking wrist-spin insertion with Kuldeep Yadav will be a punt against the odds. India's new-ball lop-sidedness will also be exaggerated by Siraj's wavering returns in the role and the lack of tested performers besides Bumrah. Of the 13 opening fast bowlers that have sent down at least 200 overs since last year, Siraj is the most expensive at 3.84 rpo for 36 wickets. The diminishing efficacies of India's change pacers (non-opening bowlers) also compound the woes while intensifying the purpose of India's spin choices. Between 2018-21, India's pace cohort dominated away conditions, ranking the best among new-ball and change pacers on strike rates. Led strongly by Bumrah's 99 wickets, India's opening seamers racked up 195 wickets with a dismissal every 50 balls, averaging 23.75. And though Bumrah has continued to share half of the new-ball workload since 2022, snapping up 56 of India's 111 wickets at an improved 42.8 strike rate, the effect of the change pacers has tapered off considerably. India's change pacers proved to be an immense force away from home between 2018-21, dominating all touring parties (min.500 overs) on averages (26.07) and strike rates (48.2). That heft provided by the presence of Shami, Ishant Sharma and Siraj in a conjoined timeline of success has diminished thereafter. Since 2022, India's change seamers have seen their average shooting up to 33.86 and a wicket arriving only once every 53 balls. The bracket clubs the bulk of the bowling of a mercurial Shardul Thakur in the period. It also binds the majority of Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna's Test match bowling yields thus far in their respective careers. In this bowling litmus test that awaits the visitors, lies England's window to clinch another home series win despite their own seam shortcomings: by switching on the aggro-bats versus Jadeja and the change pacers, and negotiating the Bumrah menace at the other end, a weakness that has caught on and knackered India since that Edgbaston Test three years ago. Lalith Kalidas is a Senior Sub-Editor with the sports team of The Indian Express. Working with the online sports desk, Lalith specializes in the happenings on the cricket field, with a particular interest in India's domestic cricket circle. He also carries an affinity towards data-driven stories and often weaves them into cricketing contexts through his analysis. 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

Business Standard

32 minutes ago

• Business Standard

England vs India head-to-head, series result, IND-ENG Test cricket history

The much-anticipated 1st Test between India and England kicks off on June 20, 2025, at Headingley, where every blade of grass seems to whisper cricket history. As both teams look to begin the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle on a high, let's dive into the numbers that define this iconic Test rivalry. India vs England Head-to-Head record (Overall) India and England have clashed in 136 Test matches to date since 1932. England maintain a historical edge, but the gap has been narrowing, especially in recent years. Despite the early dominance of England, the last decade has seen India significantly improve their Test performances both home and away. India has won 4 of the last 5 Tests against England, showcasing their growing confidence in this historic rivalry. India vs England Last 5 Tests Match Result Winner Venues India won by innings and 64 runs India Dharamsala India won by 5 wickets India Ranchi India won by 434 runs India Rajkot India won by 106 runs India Vishakhapatnam England won by 28 runs England Hyderabad India's Struggles in England Winning a Test series in England remains India's Achilles heel. The last time they conquered English soil in a series was back in 2007. Since then, despite coming close, most notably in 2022, they've struggled to finish the job. In 2022, India were leading the series but couldn't seal it in the rescheduled final Test (in Manchester), adding to the heartbreak. As the 2025 series begins, both teams bring a mix of youth and experience. For India, it's about unfinished business and rewriting history in England. For England, it's about defending home turf and reasserting dominance. One thing's certain: the tea will be hot, and the contest even hotter. IND vs ENG head-to-head stats in England (Tests) IND vs ENG head-to-head stats in India (Tests) IND vs ENG Head-to-Head in Tests in India Team Matches Won Total Matches 68 England Wins 14 India Wins 22 Drawn 32 India vs England Test history The Test cricket rivalry between India and England is among the oldest and most iconic in the sport. It began on June 25, 1932, when India played its first-ever Test match at Lord's. Led by C.K. Nayudu, India faced an experienced England side captained by Douglas Jardine. England won that historic Test by 158 runs, but it marked the beginning of a rich cricketing legacy between the two nations. For decades, England dominated the rivalry, particularly at home, but India gradually found its footing. A turning point came in 1971 when India, under Ajit Wadekar, clinched its first-ever series win in England, a feat anchored by the brilliance of Sunil Gavaskar and the spin of Bhagwat Chandrasekhar. To commemorate 75 years of India's first tour of England, the Pataudi Trophy was introduced in 2007. It was named in honour of Mansur Ali Khan "Tiger" Pataudi, India's youngest Test captain, and his father Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, the only cricketer to have played Tests for both England and India. The trophy has since been awarded to the winner of India-England Test series played in England. With over 135 Tests played, this rivalry remains a cornerstone of international cricket, steeped in history, prestige, and fierce competition. India vs England Test series result in England India vs England Test Series Results in England Series/Tournament Season Winner Margin India in England Test Match 1932 England 1-0 (1) India in England Test Series 1936 England 2-0 (3) India in England Test Series 1946 England 1-0 (3) India in England Test Series 1952 England 3-0 (4) India in England Test Series 1959 England 5-0 (5) India in England Test Series 1967 England 3-0 (3) India in England Test Series 1971 India 1-0 (3) India in England Test Series 1974 England 3-0 (3) India in England Test Series 1979 England 1-0 (4) India in England Test Series 1982 England 1-0 (3) India in England Test Series 1986 India 2-0 (3) India in England Test Series 1990 England 1-0 (3) India in England Test Series 1996 England 1-0 (3) India in England Test Series 2002 Drawn 1-1 (4) Pataudi Trophy (India in England) 2007 India 1-0 (3) Pataudi Trophy (India in England) 2011 England 4-0 (4) Pataudi Trophy (India in England) 2014 England 3-1 (5) Pataudi Trophy (India in England) 2018 England 4-1 (5) Pataudi Trophy (India in England) 2021–2022 Drawn 2-2 (5) India vs England Test series result in India India vs England Test Series Results in India Series/Tournament Season Winner Margin England in India Test Series 1933/34 England 2-0 (3) England in India Test Series 1951/52 Drawn 1-1 (5) England in India Test Series 1961/62 India 2-0 (5) England in India Test Series 1963/64 Drawn 0-0 (5) England in India Test Series 1972/73 India 2-1 (5) England in India Test Series 1976/77 England 3-1 (5) Golden Jubilee Test (England in India) 1979/80 England – England in India Test Series 1981/82 India 1-0 (6) England in India Test Series 1984/85 England 2-1 (5) England in India Test Series 1992/93 India 3-0 (3) England in India Test Series 2001/02 India 1-0 (3) England in India Test Series 2005/06 Drawn 1-1 (3) England in India Test Series 2008/09 India 1-0 (2) England in India Test Series 2012/13 England 2-1 (4) England in India Test Series 2016/17 India 4-0 (5) Anthony de Mello Trophy (England in India) 2020/21 India 3-1 (4) Anthony de Mello Trophy (England in India) 2023/24 India 4-1 (5) India vs England Head-to-Head stats in ODIs India and England have competed in 110 One Day Internationals (ODIs). Of these encounters, India has emerged victorious in 61 matches, while England has won 44 times. Additionally, 3 games ended with no result, and 2 matches concluded in a tie. IND vs ENG in ODIs Team Matches Won Total Matches 110 England Wins 44 India Wins 61 Drawn 2 No result 3 India vs England Head-to-Head stats in T20Is India and England have played each other in 29 T20 matches. Out of these, India has secured 17 wins, while England has emerged victorious in 12 games. IND vs ENG in T20Is Team Matches Won Total Matches 29 England Wins 12 India Wins 17 Drawn 0 No result 0