Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi

Mansoor Ali Khan “Tiger” Pataudi is a former Indian cricket player and captain of the team. He was born as the eighth Nawab of Pataudi. Pataudi had started his cricket career by playing as a right-handed batsman and a medium pacer right-handed bowler.

Pataudi played with the Indian team test cricket squad from 1961 till 1975. Besides Test cricket, he also played first class cricket. He has played a total of 310 first class cricket matches. Pataudi made a total of 15,425 runs with a batting average of 33.67 for his first-class cricketing career. His bowling averages were still higher at 77.59.

“Tiger” averaged an astounding 88.0 on his bowling averages for Test cricket matches and has scored 2,793 runs with a batting average of 34.91. His career did not rise to greater heights owing to an accident he was involved in at the age of 20-21. The incident left him with a permanent damaged right eye.

Pataudi captained the Indian cricket team from 1962 till 1970. He led the team during 40 matches within that period. He failed to prove himself as a worthy captain as he lost 31 of those 40 matches. He was dropped as the captain in 1970. Pataudi’s cricketing career ended up in 1975.

Career Highlights

Receiver of the Padma Shri in 1964, an honorary award given by the Government of India to recognize the receivers’ contribution in various fields.

Received the Arjuna Award in 1967, an award given by the Government of India for recognizing outstanding performance in National sports.