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Sunil Gavaskar Questions Tendulkar-Anderson Absence at Historic Trophy Presentation
India Clinch Series Decider in Thrilling Fashion
The first-ever Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test series concluded with high drama at The Oval, London, as India edged out England by six runs in the fifth and final Test. This nail-biting finish ensured the series ended in a 2-2 draw, with both captains — Shubman Gill and Ben Stokes — lifting the newly christened trophy in the post-match presentation ceremony.
However, the celebrations were overshadowed by a puzzling omission — the two cricket icons whose names grace the trophy, Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson, were nowhere to be seen during the presentation.
Gavaskar Voices Disappointment Over Missing Legends
Missed Opportunity to Honour the Icons
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar expressed his displeasure over the absence of Tendulkar and Anderson, stating that the moment demanded the presence of the two cricketing greats to personally hand over the trophy.
In his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar wrote:
“This was the first-ever series named after Sachin Tendulkar and Jimmy Anderson, two of cricket’s greatest legends. One would have expected both to be present to hand over the trophy to the two captains, especially since the series ended in a draw.”
Comparison with Border-Gavaskar Trophy Snub
Gavaskar also drew parallels to his own recent experience during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier in 2024-25, when only Allan Border was invited to the presentation ceremony after Australia’s series win. Gavaskar questioned whether a similar decision was made in this case.
“To the best of one’s knowledge, both were in England at the time. So, were they simply not invited? Or was this similar to what happened in Australia earlier this year, when only Allan Border was asked to present the Border-Gavaskar Trophy because Australia had won the series? Since this England series was drawn, perhaps neither was asked to attend the presentation.”
This statement has stirred conversation in cricket circles, with many agreeing that having the namesakes present would have amplified the significance of the historic moment.
Read our coverage of the fifth Test heroics here.
Siraj Shines as Player of the Match
While the controversy brewed off the field, the on-field heroics belonged to Mohammed Siraj, who claimed a remarkable nine wickets across both innings. His relentless pace and control earned him the ‘Player of the Match’ award, capping off a series where bowlers from both sides excelled.
For full match statistics and series details, visit the official ICC Test rankings page.
