Kapil Dev Reacts to Renaming of Pataudi Trophy to Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy

India's Test Series in England and Trophy Renaming
The Indian cricket team is currently in London for a five-match Test series against England. In a notable development, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) along with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to rename the trophy associated with this series. The Pataudi Trophy will now be known as the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, a change that has taken many cricket veterans by surprise, including former World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev.
Kapil Dev's Thoughts on the Name Change
The Pataudi Trophy was established in 2007 to honor Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, a former Indian captain. This name change comes ahead of the 2025 series. At an event in Tunbridge Wells celebrating his legendary 175-run innings against Zimbabwe during the 1983 World Cup, Kapil Dev expressed his feelings about the renaming. He remarked, “It feels a bit strange. Does something like this really happen? But it’s fine; everything goes on in cricket. After all, it doesn’t really matter. Cricket is cricket, and it should remain the same on the field.”
Historical Significance of the Pataudi Trophy
The Pataudi Trophy was named to honor the contributions of Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, who played county cricket in England before India's independence, and his son Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, who also played county cricket and captained the Indian national team. The trophy was introduced in 2007 by the ECB and BCCI to celebrate their legacies. Despite the renaming, the boards have decided to maintain the Pataudi legacy by awarding the winning captain with the Pataudi Medal, ensuring that the name continues to be recognized in a new context.