Sunil Gavaskar disappointed at not being able to make it to Sydney to present Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Not many times have India retained the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia and this time, they are inching closer to winning it Down Under. However, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, one of the two legends after whom the trophy has been named, is set to miss the special occasion when the award will be handed over at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) where the fourth and final Test is taking place. The legend is understandably disappointed.

The trophy in the Test rivalry between India and Australia was officially named as Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 1996 and since then, India have retained it on the Australian soil only once (in 2003-04 when the series was tied 1-1). India currently hold the trophy by virtue of their 2-1 victory at home in 2017 and the unassailable 2-1 lead in the current series means they have retained it till the next series even if they lose the Sydney Test.

However, the Indian fans are looking at more than a loss or draw and hoping for Virat Kohli’s men to create history on the Australian soil by winning India’s maiden Test series there.

No communication from CA

But the 69-year-old Gavaskar will not be present in Sydney to hand over the trophy to Kohli and he said there was a lack of communication from the Australian side. “I was sent a letter by Cricket Australia’s Chief Executive, James Sutherland in May asking about my availability to present the Border-Gavaskar trophy and I would have been happy to go. But he stepped down and there has been no further contact,” Gavaskar told India Today last week.

In another exclusive talk with the media outlet, Gavaskar said it would have been wonderful for him to go to Australia and meet his old friends Allan Border and Ian Chappell but was “disappointed” that he would not make it this time.

“Disappointed. It would have been wonderful to be there. Not only I would have had the opportunity to meet up with Allan Border, who was a good friend of mine but also with Ian Chappell and some of my friends there in Sydney, Australia. But that’s how it is. I am quite happy therefore watching India win from Mumbai,” he said.

India won the first Test in Adelaide and the third in Melbourne while they tasted defeat in the second game in Perth. Cheteshwar Pujara led from the front in Sydney on Thursday by producing his third century of the series after Kohli won the toss and elected to bat. India were 303 for 4 at stumps on Day 1 and with two spinners in their ranks, the visitors can hope for a favourable outcome in this Test as well.

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