Sunil Gavaskar slams ECB over retirement of Pataudi Trophy, urges Indian players to decline name honours

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Apr 7, 2025, 18:05 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar criticises the ECB's decision to retire the Pataudi Trophy, calling it insensitive and disrespectful. Initiated in 2007 to commemorate 75 years of India-England Test cricket, the trophy honoured the Pataudi legacy. Gavaskar urges Indian cricketers to decline having their names associated with any new trophy.

Sunil Gavaskar

NEW DELHI: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has strongly criticised the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) decision to retire the Pataudi Trophy, calling it a move that lacks sensitivity and historical respect.Also See: MI vs RCB Live Score, IPL 2025The Pataudi Trophy, instituted in 2007 to mark 75 years of India-England Test cricket, has been awarded to the winner of bilateral Test series played in England. However, reports indicate that the ECB plans to replace it ahead of the upcoming five-Test series between India and England in June-July 2025.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

In his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar minced no words: “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.”He added that while it’s within the ECB’s right to rename the trophy, removing Pataudi’s name is a disservice to his legacy. Check out the daily cricket challenge - Who's That?“There may well be a new trophy named after more recent players, and here’s hoping that if an Indian player has been approached, he will have the good sense to politely decline.”

Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 2: GroupM's Vinit Karnik on IPL's growth and emerging sports

Gavaskar urged current Indian cricketers to not lend their names to any new trophy, warning against the possibility of the same fate befalling their legacy in the future. “Not only out of respect for two former India captains but also to avoid the same fate of having a trophy named after him retired after he is gone,” he emphasised.

Get IPL 2025 match schedules, squads, points table, and live scores for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article