Patoudi Medal to Honor Winning Captain in India-England Series

Patoudi Medal to be Awarded in Upcoming Series

The five-match series between India and England, commencing on June 20, will see the captain of the winning team honored with the prestigious Patoudi Medal. This initiative aims to preserve the legacy of the Patoudi family within the cricketing rivalry between these two nations.

Previously, the England and Wales Cricket Board had decided to rename the Patoudi Trophy to the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy. The formal announcement was expected during the World Test Championship final at Lord's last week but was postponed due to a tragic Air India incident in Ahmedabad. Several cricket figures, including former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, criticized the decision to change the trophy's name.

Reports indicate that Sachin Tendulkar personally reached out to the ECB, advocating for the Patoudi name to remain a part of India-England cricket. ICC Chairman Jay Shah was also involved in these discussions. A source from the BCCI revealed, 'When the ECB decided to rename the trophy, Tendulkar contacted them, emphasizing that the Patoudi name should remain integral to the rivalry. Jay Shah was part of this conversation, and the ECB agreed to the request, deciding to award the Patoudi Medal to the winning captain.'

Due to the earlier scheduling conflicts, the official announcement regarding the trophy's name change will now take place on June 19, just before the series opener in Leeds. Tendulkar holds the record for the most runs in Test cricket, while Anderson is recognized as the leading fast bowler in terms of wickets. The Patoudi family has a rich history in India-England cricket, with Iftikhar Ali Khan Patoudi and his son Mansoor both having captained India and played county cricket in England for extended periods.