Sunil Gavaskar snubbed at BGT ceremony for the trophy named after him, why wasn't he called

In a bittersweet moment for Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar, he couldn't step onto the podium to present the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to the victorious Australian team. Instead, he stood at the boundary rope, applauding as Allan Border handed the trophy to Australian skipper Pat Cummins.

Cricket Australia had planned for Gavaskar to present the trophy if India retained it, while Border would do so if Australia emerged victorious. Speaking to Code Sports, Gavaskar expressed his disappointment: “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.” He added, “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.”

Reflecting on his friendship with Border, Gavaskar recalled their camaraderie during the MCC Bicentennial celebrations in 1987. "We spent three weeks traveling and playing together. It deepened our understanding of each other’s cultures, much like the IPL does today. It’s an honor that such an iconic series is named after us," he said.

Notably, soon after this, netizens expressed their disappointment on X. One user questioned the decision and said, "Why Sunil Gavaskar not called for presenting the BGT?" Another said, "Such icons deserve to be honoured."

Meanwhile, Australia’s historic victory in the fifth Test in Sydney marked their first Border-Gavaskar Trophy win since 2015, breaking a 10-year drought. Chasing 162, the Aussies overcame an early wobble at 71/3 to secure a six-wicket win, clinching the series 3-1. This also secured their place in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final for the 2023-25 cycle.

The Border-Gavaskar series, known for its fierce competition, has been dominated by India in recent years, with the last four editions ending 2-1 in their favor. This time, however, Australia turned the tables.