Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar wanted to ensure that the Pataudi name continued to be an integral part of the India-England Test series. To honor this legacy, Tendulkar proposed that the winning captain be awarded a medal named after the former Indian captain, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi.
In recognition of the two greats from the respective nations, the Pataudi Trophy has now been renamed the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Tendulkar expressed that his intention was to preserve the legacy of one of India’s greatest leaders while also celebrating the rich heritage shared between India and England.
“I remember some time ago. When the Pataudi Trophy was retired by ECB and BCCI, and then a few months down the line, when I was informed about this – the trophy being named after the two of us – that came as a pleasant surprise. The call that I made immediately after that was to the Pataudi family and I spoke to them; [I] also spoke about keeping the Pataudi legacy alive, [and] said, ‘I’ll have some ideas. I will come back to you’,” said Tendulkar as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“I shared my thoughts with the BCCI and ECB. I thought the outcome was very good. We decided that the Pataudi Medal of Excellence would be given to the winning captain because he was known for his leadership skills. The legacy is kept alive. I’ve always believed that someone who’s contributed to Indian cricket and cricket across the globe should always be respected and remembered,” he added.
The new trophy features images of Anderson and Tendulkar in action, along with their engraved signatures. Both are the most capped players in the history of Test cricket, with Tendulkar having played 200 matches and Anderson participating in 188 Tests.
“It’s a reflection of our contribution to our respective nations in Test cricket. I’ve played for 24 years, and Anderson played for 21 years. So both of us put together, it’s a substantial number of years – 45 years put together of international cricket, especially Test. That makes me feel happy. I know the appreciation is in a different way as naming the Trophy after us,” Tendulkar concluded.
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