In a significant development, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has reportedly intervened to preserve the legacy of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi in the India-England Test series, following widespread criticism over the decision to retire the Pataudi Trophy.
According to a report by Cricbuzz, Tendulkar reached out to both the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after the announcement that the trophy would be renamed the "Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy" in honour of himself and English pacer James Anderson. The move had sparked backlash from several quarters of the cricket fraternity, who believed it sidelined the historic contribution of former India captain MAK Pataudi.
An official from the ECB told Cricbuzz that a plan is now in place to retain the Pataudi name in the series in some form. “Yes, there is a confirmed plan to retain the Pataudi link in the England-India series,” the official said. The new proposal reportedly involves introducing a special medallion in the name of Pataudi, which could be awarded to the winning captain of the series.
The report also credits ICC chairperson and former BCCI secretary Jay Shah with playing a key role in facilitating the change, supporting efforts to honour the legacy of the Nawab of Pataudi.
Meanwhile, the official renaming ceremony of the Pataudi Trophy to the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy was scheduled to be held on the sidelines of the ICC World Test Championship Final on June 14. However, the event was postponed as a mark of respect for the victims of the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed several lives.
The ECB and BCCI are currently in discussions to finalise a new date for the renaming ceremony.
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New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Culture allegedly spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print advertisements marking the 100-year celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply.
The information was sought by RTI activist Ajay Basudev Bose, who filed an application seeking details on expenditure incurred by the ministry for advertisements commemorating the RSS centenary.
Bose shared a picture of the reply from the ministry on his official ‘X’ handle.
“It is informed that an amount of Rs 76,13,129 has been spent on advertisement given in various print media by the Ministry of Culture on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of RSS,” the government’s reply stated.
RTI reply shows Min of Culture Govt of India spent a Whopping Rs 76L,13K,129 on Advertisement in Print Media on occasion of 100 yrs of #RSS
— AJAY Basudev Bose (@AjayBos93388306) April 16, 2026
When Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??@RSSorg… pic.twitter.com/dW4IUtdNCg
Bose questioned the expenditure in the post X, “when Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??”
Reacting to the development, Karnataka’s IT-BT and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the spending.
In a post on X, he asked why public money was being used for what he described as a “private ideological project.”
"Modi Sarkar spent Rs 76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS. Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to celebrate their centenary?," he added.
Why is public money being used to serve a private ideological project?
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) April 16, 2026
Modi Sarkar spent ₹76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS.
Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to… pic.twitter.com/EoZ6Pim3IM
According to reports, the RSS describes itself as a volunteer-based organisation and has stated that it functions as a body of individuals rather than a registered entity.
Founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925, the organisation is marking its centenary year beginning from Vijaydashami in 2025, with the milestone observed on October 2.
