Freedom Trophy (cricket)

Freedom Trophy is a cricket trophy that is awarded to the winner of Test series, known as Gandhi-Mandela series[1], between India and South Africa. First awarded in 2015, the trophy is dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.

Countries India
 South Africa
AdministratorBCCI and CSA
FormatTest cricket
First edition2015–16 (India)
Latest edition2019–20 (India)
Next edition2021–22 (South Africa)
Tournament formatTest Series
Number of teams2
Current trophy holder India (2nd title)
Most successful India (2 titles)
Most runs Virat Kohli
(486 runs)
Most wickets Ravichandran Ashwin
(38 wickets)

Background

Prior to the trophy's inception, India and South Africa had played eleven series, six in South Africa and five in India. The overall record was six South African victories, two Indian victories, and three drawn series.[2][3]

Season Host Tests India South Africa Drawn Result
1992–93  South Africa
4
0
1
3
 South Africa
1996–97  India
3
2
1
0
 India
1996–97  South Africa
3
0
2
1
 South Africa
1999–2000  India
2
0
2
0
 South Africa
2001–02  South Africa
2
0
1
1
 South Africa
2004–05  India
2
1
0
1
 India
2006–07  South Africa
3
1
2
0
 South Africa
2007–08  India
3
1
1
1
 Drawn
2009–10  India
2
1
1
0
 Drawn
2010–11  South Africa
3
1
1
1
 Drawn
2013–14  South Africa
2
0
1
1
 South Africa

In 2015 BCCI and CSA announced that all future bilateral tours of India and South Africa to be named as Mahatma Gandhi-Nelson Mandela series. The series is named after leaders of both countries to pay tribute to them for playing a major role in winning independence by nonviolence. This has also helped in gaining an "iconic and traditional status" to the series.[4]

The Test Series has been christened as the 'Freedom Trophy'. Freedom for which Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela sacrificed their lives and thereby allowed a nation to be born free from years of bondage and suppression. BCCI, on behalf of every citizen of our country, is able to pay tribute to these great leaders by naming the series after them, and appeals to each and every citizen of our country to imbibe their ideals and follow the path advised by them

— BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur

For the people of both our countries there is no greater duty than to uphold the ideals of both Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. As cricket-loving people we must fight hard to win on the field of play but never forget to do battle in the spirit of these two great men.

— CSA chief executive, Haroon Lorgat

List of Test series
Season Host First Match Tests India South Africa Drawn Result Holder Player of the series
2015–16  India 5 November 2015
4
3
0
1
 India India Ravichandran Ashwin
2017–18  South Africa 5 January 2018
3
1
2
0
 South Africa South Africa Vernon Philander
2019–20  India 2 October 2019
3
3
0
0
 India India Rohit Sharma
2021–22  South Africa January 2022
3
-
-
-

See also

References
  1. "BCCI-CSA title bilateral series - "The Mahatma Gandhi-Nelson Mandela Series"". Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  2. India in South Africa
  3. South Africa in India
  4. "Gandhi-Mandela Series". espncricinfo. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
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