‘Tiger Pataudi’: The journey from playing cricket with one eye to becoming the youngest Test captain

New Delhi: Many players made their mark on the cricket field but Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi was different. This Indian cricketer, popularly known as Tiger, does not need any identity. His name is included among the best Test captains of India. By becoming captain at the age of just 21 years and 77 days, he had also achieved the distinction of being the youngest captain. However, this record was broken after many years.
Tiger Pataudi’s influence in the cricket world was different. This cricketer, who belonged to the royal family, was as focused on the field as he was cheerful and lively off the field. Mansoor Ali Khan was also known as Nawab Pataudi Junior. However, he lost one of his eyes in an accident. But he did not give up and even with one eye he used to destroy dangerous bowlers.
He was born on 5 January 1941 and breathed his last on 22 September 2011. He was 70 years old then. Let us know the story of his struggle-filled life. Along with cricket, Pataudi is also famous for his love story. He was married to Sharmila Tagore. His first meeting with a famous actress and former Censor Board Chairperson Sharmila took place at her Kolkata home when Pataudi had gone to an event there with a friend and from here their love story started.
Between 1961 and 1975, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi played 46 test matches for India. In which he scored 2,793 runs with the help of 6 centuries and 16 half-centuries. Pataudi was the captain of the team in 40 out of 46 matches. Under his captaincy, 9 wins, 19 losses and 12 draws were played. In 1968, under his captaincy, India won its first Test series against New Zealand on foreign soil.
Tiger holds the record for facing the ‘most number of balls faced’ in a Test match while batting sixth in the history of Test cricket. While batting at number 6, he faced 554 balls.
Tiger was elected Indian Cricketer of the Year in 1962 and Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1968. His autobiography Tiger Tale was launched in 1969. In this way, Mansoor Ali Khan earned a lot of name in the world of cricket by playing with one eye. Pataudi never played to make records, his only goal was to make the team win.