Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, one of India’s most charismatic cricketers and a prolific batsman despite losing an eye, died on Thursday aged 70 following a lung disease, his doctors said.
The former Indian national captain, better known as the Nawab of Pataudi or ‘Tiger’, was admitted to a New Delhi hospital earlier this month and appeared to be recovering before his condition deteriorated on Wednesday.
“He was suffering from interstitial [tissue] lung disease which worsened rapidly in spite of the best treatment available,” hospital spokesman SP Byotra told the Press Trust of India.
Pataudi is survived by his actress wife Sharmila Tagore, two daughters and son, Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan.
Nicknamed ‘Tiger’ because of his excellent catching and throwing in the outfield, he was regarded as one of India’s finest fielders.
An adventurous batsman, Pataudi played through most of his career without his right eye, which he lost in a car accident in England in 1961.
He became India’s captain at the age of 21 during a tour of the West Indies in 1962 when the then-skipper Nari Contractor was injured after being hit on the head by a bouncer from Charlie Griffith.
He led India in 40 of his 46 Tests, winning nine and securing the country’s first series win abroad in 1967 in New Zealand.
Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar said Pataudi’s death was a “terrible loss to world cricket”.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2011.
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"Now cracks a noble heart. Goodnight, sweet Prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."