From scoring his maiden Test century at Old Trafford back in 1990 as a 17-year-old against England to having the India Tour of England Trophy renamed after him, Sachin Tendulkar's journey has been legendary.
Ahead of India's much-awaited tour of England in the summer of 2025, the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Board of Control for Cricket in India together decided to commemorate the legacies of James Anderson and Tendulkar with a special gesture. They renamed the Test series from the Pataudi Trophy to the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
However, the renaming of the series has also stirred up a controversy as the name of the iconic Pataudi family was removed from the accolade.
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Like he did with his bat back in the day, Tendulkar has once again come to the rescue and worked behind the scenes to make sure that the Pataudi family still gets the respect they deserve.
See what he had to say about the controversy and having a special medal named after the Pataudis to continue their legacy.
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What did Sachin Tendulkar say about the Pataudi Trophy renaming controversy?
While speaking to RevSportz for the first time since being honoured by the ECB and BCCI, Tendulkar has shed light on having a new medal of excellence named after the Pataudis as a sign of respect to their contributions to England and India.
"First things first, the decision to retire the trophy rested with the BCCI and the ECB. Only after they had made the decision did they communicate that to me. As far as the Pataudi family is concerned, I am conscious of the contribution they have made to Indian cricket," Tendulkar remarked.
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"Pataudi senior played for England and for India, while Tiger Pataudi captained India with distinction. I did not see them play for I wasn’t born, but I have indeed heard stories, and those stories inspire us all," he further stated.
The 'God of Cricket' also explained how he contacted the concerned authorities from the BCCI and ECB and discussed how they could still have the Pataudis involved in this great rivalry.
"That’s why I was determined to ensure that the legacy was kept intact. When I got to know, I called the family and had a conversation. Thereafter, I spoke to Mr Jay Shah, the BCCI and the ECB, and mentioned to them that something had to be done to ensure the legacy stayed on.
"They heard my point of view, and on a second call, it was decided that the Pataudi name will be associated with the series, and the winning captain will be awarded the Pataudi medal of Excellence — I have always respected my seniors, and did everything in my power to make sure that the Pataudi legacy continues to be associated with this series," he expressed.
Sachin Tendulkar expresses gratitude over the trophy being named after him and Anderson.
Sachin went on to speak about his England connection at length, citing that his mother-in-law is English and reminiscing about his maiden Test ton in Manchester, making this an even special event for him and his family.
"Not many know that the first-ever flight that I took was also to England in 1988 as part of the Star Cricket Club team. Thereafter, my first international hundred was at Old Trafford, and was a match-saving one which kept the series alive. I was the first non-English cricketer to play for Yorkshire, where you are now," he reflected.
He also pointed out and congratulated James Anderson while mentioning him as one of the greatest English players of all time.
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"Also, my mother-in-law is English, so there is a family connection there as well. England was a very strong connection in my 24-year-long career, and as I said, I also have an opposition supporter within my family! I feel humbled that the trophy was named after Jimmy Anderson, who has been one of the greatest players to play for England, and myself," the Indian cricket icon added.
"I repeat, I’d never show disrespect to my seniors, and that’s why I did what I did and spoke to the Pataudi family to make sure that the Pataudi name also continues to be a part of this series," he reiterated.