Indian cricket legend Kapil Dev has expressed surprise and disapproval over the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) decision to rename the iconic Pataudi Trophy as the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
The move, made to honour two modern legends — James Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar — has sparked widespread criticism from cricket circles and fans alike.
Originally introduced in 2007, the Pataudi Trophy commemorated the legacy of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, a former India captain with deep cricketing ties to both India and England. His father, Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, also captained India and played county cricket in England.
Speaking at a commemorative event hosted by Three Sixty to celebrate his iconic 175 not out against Zimbabwe during the 1983 World Cup, Kapil said:
“It feels a little strange… like, does this also happen? But that’s okay, everything works in cricket. At the end of the day, cricket is cricket. The game on the field should remain unchanged.”
Reports suggest that both Sachin Tendulkar and ICC chairman Jay Shah reached out to the ECB urging them to reconsider the renaming. However, the board has chosen to move forward with the change, while keeping the Pataudi Medal for Excellence — awarded to the series-winning captain — to preserve some aspect of the Pataudi legacy.
The upcoming India vs England Test series will also mark a major generational shift for Team India. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli having recently retired from Test cricket, Shubman Gill is set to lead a new era.
