Fans, former players slam move to rename Pataudi Trophy as Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy

The England-India Test series for the Pataudi Trophy is set to be renamed the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, a move that has triggered sharp criticism from fans and former players alike.

The new trophy, named after England’s legendary pacer James Anderson and India’s batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, will be unveiled by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) before the World Test Championship final at Lords’. The renaming comes days ahead of the first Test of the England-India series, which begins June 20 at Headingley.

The move, somewhat inexplicable, is said to be in keeping with the trend of naming series after contemporary sportspersons to engage the younger generations.

However, cricketing traditionalists and Indian fans are not amused. Rather, they are put off.

Leading voices of cricket, particularly from India, have already given a thumbs down. Some of them are aghast that of all the nations, England, the self-acclaimed repository of tradition, has chosen to do it.

Author and politician Shashi Tharoor posted on X, “The problem is how little respect the guardians of today’s cricket have for the game’s hallowed history. I have had the honour of watching a Pataudi Trophy Test with Sharmila Tagore — what disrespect this shows to her and her illustrious family.”

Instituted in 2007 to mark 75 years of India’s Test cricket journey, the Pataudi Trophy honours Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi and his son Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. The elder Pataudi remains the only cricketer to have played Tests for both England and India, while his son, ‘Tiger’ Pataudi disregarded regional barriers to forge a team with self-belief in 1960.

In a way, Pataudis’ cricketing journey became a metaphor of nation’s pre- and post-partition era. That it involved England—their colonial masters—gave a charming twist to the tale.

According to reports, Sharmila Tagore, Tiger Pataudi’s wife and a former actress, is reportedly ‘hurt’ by the decision, but has left it to the BCCI to respond.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar called the decision, “insensitive and lacking historical perspective.” In his column, he wrote, “This is the first time one has heard of a trophy named after individual players being retired. It shows a total lack of sensitivity to the contribution made by the Pataudis to cricket in both England and India.”

“If an Indian player has been approached, I hope he has the good sense to politely decline,” he added.

Commentator Harsha Bhogle also feels that the move misses the connect between Pataudis, and the shared culture, history and traditions of two countries.

“Having been an admirer of Anderson and Tendulkar, I should have been happy with the series being played for a Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy. But it misses the deep connect the Pataudis had with our countries. There was a very nice ring to the Pataudi Trophy,” he posted on X.

Cricket fans, too, have voiced dismay over renaming a trophy just 18 years after its inception. Many see it as a break from tradition, questioning why such a piece of cricketing history is being overwritten.

Sports writer Joy Bhattacharjya commented, “In 20 years, what do you plan to name it next? The UK usually preserves tradition well. The Pataudis are an indelible part of cricket history. What was the need to change?”

The ECB has yet to respond to the backlash.