NEW DELHI, Sept 22: 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 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. The Ganga Ram Hospital said he died on Thursday evening.

Pataudi is survived by his actress wife Sharmila Tagore, son Saif and daughters Soha and Saba. Saif and Soha are actors.

He was India’s captain in 40 of his 46 tests from 1961 to 1975, scoring 2,793 runs with six centuries. He adjusted his batting style well despite the loss of sight in his right eye due to a car accident early in his career.

Pataudi became captain at 21 and won nine tests while leading India. To his credit, he secured his country’s first series victory away from home, against New Zealand in 1967.

He was of royal lineage and his father, Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, was the only cricketer to have played tests for both England and India.

Mansur Pataudi also captained English county Sussex and Oxford University and was named Wisden cricketer of the year in 1968.

He also edited a sports magazine during the 1990s.—Agencies