The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is set to retire the Pataudi Trophy, awarded to the winner of Test series between India and England on English soil, ahead of the upcoming five-match Test series between the two teams, starting June 20, 2025, at Headingley, Leeds.
Initially reported by Cricbuzz and subsequently covered by multiple sources, the decision has sparked widespread discussion about the future of this storied bilateral competition.
ECB remained non-committal when Cricbuzz approached, with a spokesperson saying,
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"This is not something we’ll be able to offer you a comment on."
Instituted in 2007 to mark 75 years since the first India-England Test in 1932, the trophy honours late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, the former Indian captain known as "Tiger," who led India in 40 of his 46 Tests from 1961 to 1975. His father, Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, also played Tests for both India and England, cementing the family’s dual cricketing legacy.
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Sources close to the Pataudi family confirmed the ECB has informed them of the move.
"That is the understanding from the ECB. Trophies are retired after some time," a source close to the Pataudi family said as quoted to Cricbuzz.
Why is ECB Rebranding Pataudi Trophy?
While the motivation for this change remains unclear, there is a growing speculation that the ECB could unveil a new trophy, perhaps honouring more recent cricketing icons from both countries.
This would not be unprecedented. The Wisden Trophy, once contested between England and the West Indies, gave way to the Richards-Botham Trophy, named after Viv Richards and Ian Botham.
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History of Pataudi Trophy
India last won the Pataudi Trophy in 2007 under Rahul Dravid, their only triumph in the Test format in England. The Three Lions have dominated since, securing victories in 2011, 2014 and 2018 with the 2022 series drawn.
England currently hold the trophy, leaving India without a chance to reclaim it under its current name if the retirement proceeds.
