5 iconic cricket rivalries and the names that can be used for those Test series

#1 Fazal-Merchant Trophy (India vs Pakistan)

Fazal Mahmood and Vijay Merchant are responsible for Pakistan's bowling and India's batting legacies

One of the peripheral debate in Indian cricket surrounds the origin of their enviable batting culture. Which of the two Vijays (a third protagonist with the surname of Manjrekar came later) lit the flame and started it all? Was it the enigmatic Merchant or the stoic Hazare? While both icons can lay claim to being the fore-runner of the Indian batting legacy, Merchant edges ahead after factoring their order of appearances into account. There is also the small matter of him laying the foundation to Mumbai's astounding factory-line of technically distinguished batting legends.

Meanwhile, in Pakistan, there is no doubt whatsoever regarding who influenced their regal fast bowling culture. When Fazal Mahmood spearheaded a fledgling nation to an unforgettable Test victory at The Oval in 1954, he was not only representing the hopes of Pakistan but also the collective will of the subcontinental people who were still reeling from the after-effects of British oppression.

It is inexplicable that cricket's most enthralling rivalry does not boast of a trademark trophy. If the Ashes sets the benchmark in Test cricket, the India-Pakistan rivalry unites and captivates a significantly larger amount of people. While some could argue that Gandhi-Jinnah Trophy sounds a lot more patriotic, naming the Test trophy after the fathers of their respective cricket identities is a much better way of paying tribute to the beautiful game. It has been ten long years since India and Pakistan met each other in a Test match. When the exhilarating moment finally returns, the sight of Virat Kohli and Sarfraz Ahmed posing with the Fazal-Merchant Trophy could be one to behold.