Sports trophies represent the history, legacy, traditions, and achievements of various sporting disciplines. They honour outstanding performances, preserve the heritage of games, and reflect the evolution of sports across nations. India has a rich sporting tradition with numerous prestigious domestic and international trophies associated with cricket, hockey, football, tennis, badminton, golf, and other sports.
Major International Cricket Trophies
Cricket has some of the most prestigious sporting trophies in the world. International cricket tournaments are mainly organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC), while bilateral trophies are organised by respective cricket boards.
|
Trophy / Cup |
Starting Year |
Organising Body |
First Winner |
Important Facts |
|
ICC Cricket World Cup |
1975 |
International Cricket Council (ICC) |
West Indies (1975) |
Premier international One Day International (ODI) cricket tournament. India won the World Cup in 1983 and 2011. |
|
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup |
2007 |
ICC |
India (2007) |
Global championship for Twenty20 cricket. India defeated Pakistan in the final of the inaugural edition held in South Africa. |
|
ICC Champions Trophy |
1998 |
ICC |
South Africa (1998) |
Originally known as ICC KnockOut Tournament. It features top-ranked cricket nations competing in ODI format. |
|
ICC World Test Championship Mace |
2019 (inaugural cycle) |
ICC |
New Zealand (2021) |
Championship for Test-playing nations. The winner receives the ICC Test Championship Mace. |
|
The Ashes |
1882–83 |
England and Australia Cricket Boards |
Australia (1882–83) |
Historic Test rivalry between England and Australia. The name originated after Australia defeated England at The Oval in 1882. |
|
Border–Gavaskar Trophy |
1996–97 |
BCCI and Cricket Australia |
India (1996–97) |
Test series between India and Australia. Named after Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar. |
|
Pataudi Trophy |
2007 |
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) |
India (2007) |
Awarded during India’s Test tour of England. Named after Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and the Pataudi cricketing family. India won the inaugural series 1–0 under Rahul Dravid. |
Important Indian Domestic Cricket Trophies
Domestic cricket tournaments in India are organised mainly by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). These competitions help identify and develop cricket talent.
|
Trophy |
Starting Year |
Format |
Important Facts |
|
Ranji Trophy |
1934-35 |
First-Class Cricket |
India’s premier domestic first-class cricket tournament. Named after Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji. First winner: Bombay. |
|
Duleep Trophy |
1961-62 |
First-Class Cricket |
Named after Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji. Initially played between geographical zones. |
|
Irani Cup |
1959-60 |
First-Class Cricket |
Played between Ranji Trophy champions and Rest of India. Named after Z. R. Irani. |
|
Vijay Hazare Trophy |
2002-03 |
List A (50-over) Cricket |
Named after Vijay Hazare, one of India’s greatest batsmen. |
|
Deodhar Trophy |
1973-74 |
List A Cricket |
Named after Prof. D. B. Deodhar, known as the “Grand Old Man of Indian Cricket”. |
|
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy |
2006-07 |
T20 Cricket |
India’s premier domestic T20 tournament. Named after Syed Mushtaq Ali, the first Indian batsman to score a Test century overseas. |
|
Indian Premier League (IPL) |
2008 |
T20 Cricket |
The IPL is India’s premier professional Twenty20 league featuring city-based franchise teams with both Indian and overseas players. It is organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and provides a platform for domestic and international cricketers to compete together. The inaugural season was won by Rajasthan Royals under the captaincy of Shane Warne. |
Major Hockey Trophies
Hockey has a special place in Indian sporting history because India dominated international hockey for several decades.
|
Trophy / Cup |
Starting Year |
Organising Body |
First Winner |
Important Facts |
|
Hockey World Cup |
1971 |
International Hockey Federation (FIH) |
Pakistan (1971) |
Premier international hockey tournament. |
|
Sultan Azlan Shah Cup |
1983 |
Malaysian Hockey Confederation |
Australia (1983) |
Annual international men’s hockey tournament held in Malaysia. Pakistan was the runner-up in the inaugural edition. |
|
Champions Trophy (Hockey) |
1978 |
FIH |
Pakistan (1978) |
Featured the world’s top hockey teams. |
|
Beighton Cup |
1895 |
Indian Hockey Federation / Hockey Bengal |
Calcutta Naval Volunteers AC |
One of the oldest hockey tournaments in the world. Started in Kolkata. |
|
Aga Khan Cup |
1896 |
Hockey tournament in India |
Bombay Gymkhana |
One of India’s earliest premier hockey tournaments, originated in Mumbai. |
Major Football Trophies
Football has several prestigious international and Indian tournaments. Many Indian football trophies have historical links with colonial-era sporting traditions.
|
Trophy / Cup |
Starting Year |
Organising Body |
First Winner |
Important Facts |
|
FIFA World Cup |
1930 |
FIFA |
Uruguay (1930) |
The most prestigious international football tournament. Held every four years. |
|
FIFA Club World Cup |
2000 |
FIFA |
Corinthians (Brazil), 2000 |
Championship among top club teams from different continents. |
|
UEFA Champions League Trophy |
1955 |
UEFA |
Real Madrid (1956) |
Europe’s premier club football competition. |
|
Durand Cup |
1888 |
Durand Football Tournament Society / Indian Armed Forces |
Royal Scots Fusiliers |
India’s oldest football tournament and recognised as the third-oldest existing football tournament in the world after the FA Cup and Scottish Cup. |
|
Santosh Trophy |
1941 |
All India Football Federation (AIFF) |
Bengal (1941) |
India’s national football championship for states. Named after Maharaja Sir Manmatha Nath Roy Chowdhary of Santosh. |
|
Rovers Cup |
1891 |
Bombay Presidency |
Historically India’s second-oldest football tournament after Durand Cup; now discontinued. |
Major Badminton Trophies
Badminton tournaments are governed globally by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
|
Trophy |
Starting Year |
Organising Body |
Important Facts |
|
Thomas Cup |
1949 |
BWF |
World men’s team badminton championship. India won its first Thomas Cup in 2022 by defeating Indonesia 3-0. |
|
Uber Cup |
1957 |
BWF |
World women’s team badminton championship. Named after former English badminton player Betty Uber. |
|
Sudirman Cup |
1989 |
BWF |
World mixed team badminton championship. Named after Indonesian badminton legend Dick Sudirman. |
Tennis Grand Slam Trophies
The four Grand Slam tournaments are the most prestigious competitions in tennis. They are organised by their respective national tennis bodies.
|
Grand Slam |
Starting Year |
Organising Body |
Important Trophy Facts |
|
Australian Open |
1905 |
Tennis Australia |
Men’s trophy: Norman Brookes Challenge Cup. Women’s trophy: Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. |
|
French Open (Roland Garros) |
1891 |
French Tennis Federation |
Men’s trophy: Coupe des Mousquetaires. Women’s trophy: Coupe Suzanne Lenglen. |
|
Wimbledon |
1877 |
All England Lawn Tennis Club |
Men’s trophy: Gentlemen’s Singles Trophy. Women’s trophy: Venus Rosewater Dish. |
|
US Open |
1881 |
United States Tennis Association |
One of the four Grand Slam tournaments. |
Other important tennis team competitions:
|
Trophy |
Starting Year |
Important Facts |
|
Davis Cup |
1900 |
Men’s international team tennis championship. |
|
Billie Jean King Cup |
1963 |
Women’s international team tennis championship. Earlier known as Fed Cup; renamed in 2020. |
|
Hopman Cup |
1989 |
Mixed team tennis tournament named after Australian player Harry Hopman. |
Major Golf Trophies
Golf has several prestigious international trophies that represent team spirit, sportsmanship, and competitive excellence. The most important golf trophies are associated with historic team competitions involving professional and amateur golfers from different countries.
|
Trophy |
Starting Year |
Important Facts |
|
Ryder Cup |
1927 |
Biennial golf competition between Europe and the United States. |
|
Walker Cup |
1922 |
Amateur golf competition between teams from the USA and Great Britain and Ireland. |
Major Polo Trophy
Polo has a long sporting tradition, and several historic trophies represent the legacy and global popularity of the game. Among them, the Ezra Cup holds special significance as one of the oldest continuously played polo trophies in the world.
|
Trophy |
Starting Year |
Important Facts |
|
Ezra Cup |
1880 |
Considered the oldest continuing polo trophy in the world. Started in Kolkata. |
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Sports Cups and Trophies FAQs
Q1. Which country won the first ICC Cricket World Cup in 1975?+
Q2. The Thomas Cup is associated with which sport?+
Q3. The Durand Cup is related to which sport and why is it significant?+
Q4. The Santosh Trophy is related to which sport?+
Q5. The Ranji Trophy is related to which sport and is named after whom?+
Q6. Which country won the first FIFA World Cup in 1930?+
Q7. The Ryder Cup is associated with which sport?+
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