The decision to rename the trophy for the India-England Test series in England was made by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Kapil Dev Questions ECB’s Decision to Rename Pataudi Trophy

The legendary Kapil Dev, on Wednesday, expressed surprise at the decision to rename the Pataudi Trophy as the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, calling the move “strange.” The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) recently announced the change, honoring James Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar by rechristening the trophy awarded to the winner of the England-hosted Test series against India.

Instituted in 2007, the Pataudi Trophy was named after the iconic Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, whose family shares a rich history with both Indian and English cricket. Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi and his son Mansur both captained India and played county cricket in England, establishing a strong legacy between the two nations.

Speaking at an event organised by Three Sixty to commemorate his iconic unbeaten 175 during the 1983 World Cup match against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells, Kapil reacted candidly to the change. “It feels a little strange… like, does this also happen? But that’s okay, everything works in cricket. At the end of the day, there is no difference. Cricket is cricket. The cricket on the field should be the same,” he remarked.

ECB Stands Firm as India Enters a New Era Under Shubman Gill

The ECB’s decision faced widespread criticism, with reports suggesting even Sachin Tendulkar and ICC chairman Jay Shah attempted to persuade the board to reverse it. Despite the backlash, the England board has retained the Pataudi Medal for Excellence—an individual honour introduced to preserve the legacy of the former India captain—which will be awarded to the winning captain of the series.

The upcoming series marks the beginning of a new chapter in Indian Test cricket. With stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announcing their retirements last month, the responsibility now falls on the shoulders of 25-year-old Shubman Gill.

Former India captain Kapil Dev offered simple yet impactful advice to the young skipper: “There are no expectations. Just go, play, express yourself. That’s more important,” he said.

The five-match series begins on June 20 in Leeds, where India will be eyeing their first Test series win in England since 2007.