Cricket Australia has responded to Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar’s disappointment at not being invited to present the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Gavaskar expressed his unhappiness over the decision to exclude him from the presentation ceremony following the fifth Test between India and Australia.
Clarifying the matter, Cricket Australia stated that Gavaskar had been informed he would present the trophy to Indian captain Jasprit Bumrah if India had retained it. However, since Australia claimed the trophy after 10 years, Allan Border was chosen to hand it over to Australian captain Pat Cummins.
A spokesperson for Cricket Australia admitted, “We acknowledge it would have been preferable if both Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar had been asked to go on stage.”
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Despite being present at the venue, Gavaskar was overlooked for the ceremony. Speaking to Code Sports, Gavaskar said, “I certainly would have loved to be part of the presentation. After all, it is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, representing both Australia and India.”
He further added, “It shouldn’t matter that Australia won. They played better cricket and deserved the victory. I would have been happy to present the trophy alongside my good friend Allan Border.”
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, contested since 1996-97, has become one of Test cricket’s fiercest rivalries. The recently concluded five-match series, won by Australia, attracted record-breaking crowds, including an 87-year attendance record at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.