Sunil Gavaskar ‘perplexed’ after not being invited on stage to present Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar insists he is “not feeling sad”, but “perplexed”, after not being invited on stage to present the trophy named after him to Australian captain Pat Cummins.

Cricket Australia quickly conceded they made an error, but not before Gavaskar expressed his frustrations.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Sunil Gavaskar snubbed from trophy presentation.

Australia sealed a 3-1 series win with victory in the fifth Test in Sydney on Sunday, bringing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy back to home shores for the first time in 10 years.

Aussie legend Allan Border, with whom Gavaskar shares the naming honours, handed the trophy to Cummins on the dais at the end of an enthralling Day 3 at the SCG.

But he did so without the company of his contemporary and naming partner, Gavaskar, who was told before the Test that he would only be involved if India retained the trophy.

“I was told just before the Test, if India didn’t win or draw the series, I wouldn’t be required to give the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” Gavaskar told ABC.

“I’m not feeling sad, but I’m just feeling perplexed. It’s the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, both of us should’ve been there.”

A Cricket Australia spokesperson responded to the comments in a statement: “We acknowledge it would have been preferable if both Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar had been asked to go on stage.”

The Indian icon received a flood of support for his confusion at the snubbing.

“I’m totally on board with Sunil Gavaskar’s disappointment at not being invited to present the trophy with his name on it,” ABC’s Ric Finlay said.

Sports commentator Brett McKay added: “Sunny Gavaskar not joining Allan Border on stage for the presentation of the trophy named after them both, despite being at the SCG currently.”

Some weren’t quite as diplomatic in the way they worded their displeasure.

“Why on earth was Sunil Gavaskar not invited to present the Border-Gavaskar Trophy along with Allan Border to the winning captain? Will someone remind Cricket Australia that there were two teams playing out there and TWO legends after whom the trophy is named? Very poor form,” Indian writer Rajdeep Sardesai said.

Australian radio broadcaster Neil Mitchell added: “Sunil Gavaskar seems a lovely man. Humble, for a cricketing genius.

“How on earth could Cricket Australia not have him present the trophy with AB? It is an appalling and embarrassing error.”

Having taken the trophy back from India, London will now brace itself to see Australia crowned as world champions once again on English soil, with Pat Cummins declaring he can’t wait to defend the World Test Championship mace in the final against South Africa in June.

Cummins’ team’s six-wicket victory over India in Sydney sealed their place at Lord’s for what the ICC hails as the ‘Ultimate Test’ against a young Proteas outfit.

Australia will doubtless start as overwhelming favourites to defend the striking ICC trophy they also lifted in the English capital across town at The Oval in 2023.

“To hold the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is an amazing feeling, and the extra layer is now securing a spot again in the World Test Championship final, which was always a huge goal for us in this cycle,” Cummins said.

“We talk about the World Test Championship a lot. It’s a trophy we’re really proud to hold so we want to go back and defend it.

“I think it’s a great tournament in that you’ve got to play well consistently and across all different conditions against different teams. We can’t wait to get over there.”

In what will be the just the third final of the championship, Australia, who hammered India by 209 runs in 2023, have the chance to become the first team to win the mace twice following New Zealand’s eight-wicket victory over India in the inaugural final in 2021.

The Sydney win ensured Australia consolidated second position in the WTC standings with 63.73 percentage points to move them beyond reach of India (50.00 per cent) and Sri Lanka (45.45), who had both still harboured hopes of a place in the showpiece event by finishing in the top two.

- With AAP