CA comes clear on the Sunil Gavaskar snub in Border Gavaskar Trophy presentation

With the name the India vs Australia Test series carries, one would expect equal recognition for legends Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar. However, Cricket Australia chose a different approach while planning the presentation ceremony for the all-important five-match tournament down under. India suffered a disheartening 1-3 defeat in the series, managing to win only the opening BGT Test in Perth. While the visitors managed a draw in the rain-marred Gabba Test, a faltering batting order resulted in defeats in the remaining matches, handing the series to the Kangaroos. Although India's loss dominated headlines after the Sydney Test, a bizarre moment unfolded during the presentation ceremony when only Allan Border was invited to hand over the Border Gavaskar Trophy to winning captain Pat Cummins.

"It would've been preferable...": CA opens up about excluding Sunil Gavaskar from the BGT presentation

The internet buzzed with discussions about the conspicuous absence of Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar from the presentation. As Australian skipper Pat Cummins stepped forward to claim the Border Gavaskar Trophy, which Australia won after a decade, only Allan Border was present to award the title. Gavaskar’s absence drew attention, especially since the former Indian cricketer was on the field for his commentary duties at the time. Addressing the matter, Gavaskar expressed being "perplexed" by his exclusion.

“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,” said Gavaskar after the ceremony. “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,” he added.

Given that the series carries the names of both legends, it would have been fitting for both to be invited to the ceremony. As Gavaskar himself noted, he should not have been seen as merely an Indian representative but rather as a cricketing icon. Hours after the controversy sparked widespread debate online, Cricket Australia clarified its stance on the matter. 

They explained that it had been pre-decided that if Australia won, Allan Border would present the trophy. Conversely, had India won, Sunil Gavaskar would have handed the trophy to the Indian captain. While Cricket Australia provided their rationale for Gavaskar’s exclusion, the board acknowledged its oversight in the matter. A spokesperson from CA admitted it would have been more appropriate to include both Border and Gavaskar in the ceremony.

“We acknowledge it would have been preferable if both Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar had been asked to go on stage,” a CA spokesperson said.