Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar was left on the sidelines during the presentation ceremony of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the SCG on Sunday, sparking widespread backlash and disappointment.
Despite the series being named in his honour alongside Australian great Allan Border, Gavaskar was not invited on stage to hand over the coveted trophy to Australia’s victorious captain, Pat Cummins, after their 3-1 series win over India.
Gavaskar, who was present at the ground, was reportedly unaware of the arrangement until the final Test began.
It is being reported that Cricket Australia (CA) had decided beforehand that Border would present the trophy if Australia won, while Gavaskar would handle the presentation only if India retained the title. This decision left Gavaskar standing near the boundary rope as Border alone took to the stage.
Speaking after the ceremony, Gavaskar expressed his perplexity, saying,
“It’s the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and it’s about Australia and India. I would have been happy to present the trophy with my good friend Allan Border. It shouldn’t matter who won; both names are on the trophy.”
CA later admitted it would have been “preferable” for both cricketing icons to be part of the ceremony, issuing a statement saying,
“We acknowledge that involving both Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar in the presentation would have been ideal.”
Gavaskar’s exclusion struck a particularly sour note given his significant contribution to the rivalry, which has grown to be one of cricket’s most prestigious.
The former Indian captain, who amassed over 10,000 Test runs in his illustrious career, has been a central figure in the summer’s commentary team and was actively involved in celebrating the series.
The decision to sideline Gavaskar has drawn sharp criticism from cricket fans and commentators alike, with many calling it a missed opportunity to honour one of the sport’s greatest contributors. On social media, fans expressed their disappointment, with some labelling the move disrespectful to the former Indian skipper.
While the controversy unfolded, Australia’s dominant performance in the series was somewhat overshadowed. The team reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after six years, earning their place in the World Test Championship final. The SCG Test marked a historic victory for Pat Cummins’ men, overcoming challenging conditions to secure a six-wicket win.
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