Former Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar, after whom the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy is partly named, voiced his disappointment over not being invited to the presentation ceremony following Australia’s emphatic six-wicket victory in the Sydney Test. Australia clinched the series 3-1, reclaiming the trophy after a decade-long wait.
Despite being present at the venue, Gavaskar was not called upon to join Allan Border, his co-namesake, in handing over the trophy. Allan Border presented the award to the victorious Australian team on Sunday.
Speaking to Code Sports, Gavaskar said, “I certainly would have loved to have been there for the presentation. After all, it is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and it represents the cricketing rivalry between Australia and India. I was here on the ground, and it shouldn’t matter that Australia won. They played better cricket, and that’s perfectly fine. I would have been honored to present the trophy alongside my good friend Allan Border.”
Cricket Australia (CA) later issued a clarification, stating that Gavaskar would have been invited to present the trophy had India retained it by winning the series. A spokesperson admitted, “It would have been preferable if both Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar had been asked to go on stage, regardless of the result.”
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which has been contested since 1996-97, has evolved into one of the fiercest rivalries in Test cricket. The recently concluded series witnessed record-breaking attendance, including a historic crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, surpassing an 87-year-old record. Gavaskar’s exclusion from the ceremony has added a layer of controversy to an otherwise memorable series.