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Australia clinched the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-2025 title after thrashing India by six wickets in the Sydney Test to pocket the series 3-1. However, batting great Sunil Gavaskar, after whom the trophy is named, was notably absent from the presentation ceremony. Meanwhile, Sunil Gavaskar was seen standing near the boundary ropes during the ceremony. It was legendary Allan Border who presented the trophy to the Australian team. Gavaskar wasn't happy with Cricket Australia's gesture and said that I certainly would have loved to have been there for the presentation.
“I certainly would have loved to have been there for the presentation. After all, it is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and it is about Australia and India. I mean, I am here on the ground. To me, it should not matter that Australia won when it comes to the presentation. They played better cricket so they won. That’s fine. Just because I am an Indian (I did not present the trophy). I would have been happy to present the trophy with my good friend Allan Border,” Gavaskar said as quoted by Code Sports.
Cricket Australia admits their mistake of not inviting Sunil Gavaskar for Border-Gavaskar Trophy presentation ceremony
The Cricket Australia (CA) acknowledged that Sunil Gavaskar's absence from the trophy presentation ceremony wasn't an ideal spectacle.
"We acknowledge it would have been preferable if both AB and Sunil had been asked to go on stage," CA said in a statement to Cricbuzz.
Cricket Australia explained that the plan was to invite only one of the two legends, Sunil Gavaskar or Allan Border, to present the trophy. The guest of honor would be determined based on the outcome of the series. Given Australia's victory, Allan Border was invited to present the trophy. This decision was made to ensure that only the legend associated with the winning team would present the trophy
"The plan was that if India won Sunil would present and Allan Border would present to Australia," a CA official said elaborating on the matter," CA's statement added.
Tracing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy's roots, it was was first introduced during the 1996-97 series played in India. Since its inception, 17 series have been contested between the two nations, both home and away. Historically, Australia holds a slight edge in the overall head-to-head record, with 13 series victories compared to India's 11. Five series have resulted in draws. The inaugural India-Australia Test series took place in Australia during the 1947-48 season.
Australia win Border-Gavaskar Trophy series after 10 years
Prior to the recent series, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was contested over four Tests in 2023, held in India. India emerged victorious in that series, with Sunil Gavaskar presenting the trophy to captain Rohit Sharma as Allan Border was unavailable in the country at the time.
Notably, India's defeat in the SCG Test allowed Australia to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in 10 years. The last time Australia won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series was in 2014-15 on home soil. They defeated India 2-0 in a four-match Test series. Since then, India have secured four consecutive series wins, including two impressive victories on Australian soil.
