Indian cricket legend Kapil Dev admitted that the renaming of the Pataudi Trophy to the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy made him feel “a little strange.”In a recent interview, Kapil said that while the change surprised him, he believes the quality of cricket matters more than the name of the trophy.
Kapil Dev Feels ‘Strange’ About Trophy Rename
“Cricket is cricket. What happens on the ground should be good. The rest you can keep changing; it did feel a little strange when it happened. I did think, does this happen as well? But it’s ok, everything goes in cricket,” said Kapil.
The Pataudi Trophy was first introduced in 2007 by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) to commemorate 75 years of India’s Test cricket history. Named after Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi and his son Mansoor Ali Khan “Tiger” Pataudi, both of whom played for India, the trophy was a symbol of shared cricket heritage.
The new name, however, has sparked debate, with critics questioning the relevance of pairing Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson, two players who didn’t compete directly during their peak years.
Kapil’s Advice for Young India Squad: ‘Just Express Yourself’
Kapil Dev also spoke about India’s upcoming five-Test series in England, beginning June 20. Kapil Dev urged newly appointed captain Shubman Gill and his relatively inexperienced squad to play freely and avoid feeling burdened by expectations.
“I just don’t have any expectations, just go, play, express yourself. That is more important,” he advised.
Kapil Dev is one of the few Indian captains who have led India to a series victory in England. He secured a 2-0 win.
With seasoned players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin stepping away from Test cricket, the onus now lies on a younger team to make their mark in one of cricket’s toughest environments. Shubman Gill, as the new Test captain for India, will be looking to start his tenure with a victory.