Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi Passes Away

New Delhi: Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, fondly known as Tiger, one of India's greatest cricket captains, passed away at Sir Ganga Ram hospital on Thursday. He died due to respiratory failure leading to cardiac arrest. He was 70.

In an international career spanning 15 years, Pataudi played 46 Tests, scoring 2,793 runs with six Test centuries at an average of 34.91 - all while playing with one good eye.

A car accident in July 1961, six months before his Test debut, left the "dazzling" young talent (as cricket magazine Wisden described him) with a severely impaired right eye. No one would ever know what he could have attained with full vision.

But the Nawab of Pataudi still had the eye of the tiger. In his prime, he was a regal middle-order batsman who relished scoring at a brisk pace and hooking the fastest of bowlers. He was also unafraid to step out and play lofted shots against spinners.

Pataudi's career highlights

• December 13, 1961: Makes debut against England in Delhi, scores 13.
• January 10, 1962: Scores maiden century in his third Test, 113 against England in Chennai.
• March 23, 1962: Leads India in his fourth Test, in Barbados, and at 21 is Test cricket's youngest captain.
• February 12-13, 1964: Makes career-best score, 203 not out against England in Delhi.
• February-March 1968: Leads India to their first overseas Test in, in Dunedin. India go on to win an away series for the first time, beating New Zealand 3-1.
• January 23, 1975: Plays his final Test, scoring 9 in each innings against West Indies in Mumbai.