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It is important to understand that at first, the prized trophy extended to the winner of the India-England Test series, formerly-known as the Pataudi Trophy was commissioned back in the year 2007. Now, the body responsible for commissioning the same was none other than the iconic Marylebone Cricket Club, often and better known as the MCC.
This trophy, named the Pataudi Trophy, was played between two of the big three forces of international cricket, whom we know as England and India.
Having said that in the light of the recent events, though widely discussed, hugely debated and even polarised to the extent that the dropping of the former name has earned big criticism from close circles, the Pataudi Trophy got rechristened.
The new name that now stands for what was once the famed Pataudi Trophy is Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. However, the new naming has earned the wrath of cricket legends such as Sunil Gavaskar.
But it has to be understood that the renaming of the trophy after several decades put together, (not that the Pataudi Trophy was renamed earlier as well, prior to this new name), was a step not taken by the powerful BCCI.
The same was the decision taken by the revered England and Wales Cricket Board.
However, going back in time, it was Team India that won the first inception of the Pataudi Trophy by a margin of 1-0 in a 3-game series.
The results, thereafter of the same are as follows:
Pataudi Trophy in the year 2011 - England won 4-0 (4)
Pataudi Trophy in the year 2014 - England won 3-1 (5)
Pataudi Trophy in the year 2018 - England won 4-1 (5)
Pataudi Trophy in the year 2021-2022 - Drawn 2-2 (5)
The above team results said, there are, at least, two more outstanding but individual pieces of statistics pertaining to the erswhile Pataudi Trophy that one must note.
What are they?
For starters, who was the bowler, who as on date, is responsible for the highest or maximum amount of wickets taken in the Pataudi Trophy? To that end, the man responsible for the same is an unbridled legend of the game and a colossus of the world of fast bowling. Jimmy Anderson.
With no fewer than 100 Test match wickets in the Pataudi Trophy, Jimmy Anderson, holds the Test match record of taking the most number of wickets in this series. On the whole, Anderson claimed 704 Test wickets. But just imagine the dominance of his performance against India?
Moreover, the English batter with most runs during the course of the Pataudi Trophy, as on date, happens to be none other than the great Joe Root, who's scored 1400 Test runs in these contests.
Another important perspective concerning the erstwhile Pataudi Trophy is the following:
How many Tests have taken place under the title of the Pataudi Trophy?
And the answer to that question is 22 Tests, including those in the trophy's inaugural year 2007.
Of these, which team has won more Tests against the other?
To that end, it's important to note that England claimed a win in 13 contests, while so far, India have won just 5 games.
Who were the two of the most valuable players in the Pataudi Trophy the last that it was held, circa 2021?
Well, both of these gentlemen are again, going to clash akin to two mighty stalwarts of their respective sides this time around in 2025.
Joe Root and Jasprit Bumrah!
