Tiger Pataudi: The Indian prince who came to play cricket

When the newly named Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy is triumphantly raised at the end of the fifth Test between England and India, the winning captain will also have a piece of history in his pocket.

The inaugural Pataudi Medal of Excellence.

A family name of royal heritage symbolising the shared legacy and complex history between two nations.

The 8th Nawab of Pataudi, Iftikhar Ali Khan, played for both England and India in the 1930s and '40s, while his son Mansoor Ali Khan, known as Tiger, was one of India's greatest captains.

For the 18 years previous to the 2025 series, it was the Pataudi Trophy that both sides contested in England.

The change of name is dedicated to the remarkable more-recent achievements of Sir James Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar in Test cricket. Both greats in their own right.

But Tendulkar himself is at pains to point out the influence his predecessor had on Indian cricket and that his legacy should live on.

"Tiger Pataudi played a huge role in inspiring many generations and that should never be forgotten," he said.

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