"Just because I am an Indian" - Sunil Gavaskar upset not to be part of trophy presentation for BGT 2024-25

Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar expressed his anger about not being part of the post-match trophy presentation after the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which came into existence in the 1996-97 India-Australia Test series, is named after Indian and Australian icons Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border, respectively.

Cricket Australia (CA) had apparently planned the presentation in a way that Gavaskar would hand the trophy to the Indian captain should they retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and Border would do the same if Australia emerged victorious.

Thus, the Indian legend stood at the boundary rope watching as Border handed the trophy to Aussie skipper Pat Cummins after the hosts won the Sydney Test to take the five-match series 3-1.

Talking about the same after the presentation, Gavaskar was quoted as saying by Code Sports [via Indian Express]:

"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."

India were holders of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the last four editions. However, Australia finally laid hands on the coveted trophy for the first time since 2014-15.

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"I am very fond of AB" - Sunil Gavaskar

Australia v India - Men's 1st Test Match: Day 1 - Source: Getty

Sunil Gavaskar recently expressed his fondness for Allan Border and said their relationship took off during the MCC Bicentennial celebrations in 1987.

The duo scored over 10,000 runs each in Test cricket, combining for an incredible 61 centuries as they dominated the 1970s and 1980s with their willow.

"I am very fond of AB (Border). The relationship really blossomed when both of us played for the Rest of the World team vs MCC during the MCC Bicentennial celebrations in 1987. We spent three weeks together, traveling together and playing a few matches against county before the game against MCC. We really bonded, got to know each other, the culture, the person," said Gavaskar [via Indian Express].

"Bit like what IPL does these days, bringing people from different countries together. I feel honoured, privileged, and blessed that the series between India and Australia is named after us. Such an iconic series – it’s a blessing," he added.

Coming to the recently concluded 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India won the first Test in Perth before Australia stormed back to win three of the next four encounters.