Mansur Ali Khan, The Nawab of Pataudi, a.k.a as ‘Tiger Pataudi’ lost to the six-month long lung disease battle, in Delhi, on September 22, 2011. An epitome of grace and nobility, in the world of cricket, Tiger Pataudi, was perhaps India’s finest ambassador, both on and off the field.
Mansur Ali Khan, 70 years and 260 days old, when he met His Maker, was born in Bhopal to the 8th Nawab of Pataudi, Iftikhar Ali Khan (from whom he inherited the title, until its abolition in 1971) on January 5th, 1941. His father died on his (Mansur’s) 11th birthday in 1952. The non-salute state, now under present day Haryana, had already merged into the Indian Union, but he still retained the titular dignity. Mansur received his education at Aligarh, Dehradun and Winchester, which was topped by a degree from Oxford University.
Tiger Pataudi made his test debut in December, 1961 at Delhi against the then MCC (England) and he played his last Test against the West Indies in January, 1975. His cricketing career spanned roughly 14 years, in which he played 46 Tests (of which he captained 40). As a batsman, in 83 outings he scored 2,793 runs, giving an average of 34.91, in which he scored 16 half centuries, 6 centuries, hit 19 sixes and took 27 catches. His 203 runs (not out) against England were perhaps the best innings of his career in a situation when his entire team had collapsed.
The Nawab of Pataudi was one of India’s greatest captains. At 21, he become India’s youngest captain (a record held to date) following the injury inflicted in a match to the then Captain Nari Contractor.
Many had written off his cricketing career in 1960, when Pataudi, at 20, met with a car accident, in which he permanently lost the vision of his right eye. But No. Tiger was back to the nets soon, learning to play with one eye. It is not of common knowledge, that Pataudi because of the glass eye had double vision, which meant that he actually saw two images of the ball, and it had to be the second ball that he had to play. With his resilient character, he trained himself to become a class batsman despite the permanent impairment.
On field as a young captain, he displayed remarkable stewardship and guardianship. The presence of stalwarts like Dilip Sardesai, Kunderan or K.L. Jaishima did not intimidate him at all. He led from the front with command, supremacy, pre-eminence, charisma, self-assurance and self-reliance. Mansur’s wedding to Sharmila Tagore in December, 1969, was a high point for Muslims in India. Sharmila, then, was competing with renowned Bollywood heroines like Sadhna, Waheeda Rahman and Vijayantimala. The wedding gave a boost to her career, and her stellar performances began post-1970. She was transformed into a Begum as Ayesha Sultana; her aura and substance safeguarding the nobility of her own family too.
In 1969, Mansur led the South Zone team in a Ranji Trophy semi-final at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium. I was a middle school student and watched the match with my father. In the team was Mansur’s best friend and cricketing buddy and a star in his own right — the tall and handsome Abbas Ali Baig fielding at ‘Third Man’ position near the pavilion end. Sharmila who was newly married to the Tiger kept teasing him with comments and tossed chocolate wrappings at him – Abbas would turn, look up, smile and wave. In the dressing room, while talking to Abbas Ali Baig and Jaishima, Mansur was padding up and humming Mohammed Rafi’s famous number, 'O door ke musafir', which was his favourite song.
In the same match, at the end of day’s play, a few spectators lined up as the team passed through into the pavilion. As Mansur led the team, he was suddenly hit by a stone on his neck. Taken aback, he turned, glanced at the crowd and continued to walk with his customary head down. No anger. He displayed a character laced with dignity and calm, no matter what direction the match or the event moved. Tiger, you will always be remembered.
