The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is reportedly considering retiring the Pataudi Trophy, contested between England and India in Test series played in England. Sources indicate that the Pataudi family has been brought up to date on the issue, which appears to have divided the cricket community.

The Pataudi Trophy’s Legacy

Pursuant to Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, one of India’s most remembered captains, the trophy was created in 2007 to commemorate the 75th year since India’s inaugural Test tour to England. Over the years, it showcased the intense competition between the two cricketing superpowers, like India’s historic series victory in 2007, England’s supremacy in the game in 2011 and India’s revitalisation in 2018. 

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Why Retire the Trophy?

The ECB has yet to make an announcement about the initiative or provide any reasoning. Nevertheless, some have speculated that the ECB has opted to change the branding of the series as the context of cricket changes rapidly in light of T20 leagues. Another consideration could be that the cup naming of "trophy" is asymmetric and appears odd as to where one would play for the Pataudi Trophy in England while playing for the Anthony de Mello Trophy in a series in India.

If the old trophy is indeed retired, then a trophy could be reinserted that would simply rescale the naming and signify something juxtaposed with a common historical milestone.

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This move comes with a scheduled five-Test tour for India to England in June of 2025, making an announcement likely given its positioning within the calendar. Regardless of whether there is a trophy, the series contest will likely personify one of the greatest rivalries in cricket between England and India.