Last Friday Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi died due to severe lung infection. He was a hero in life and even a greater hero in death. When the burial was taking place even the family was taken aback by the response of the 52 villages which were officially under Nawab Pataudi. There was literally a rampage as people came for the last rites. It is estimated that about 15,000 people came during the funeral. The number could be much larger.

He was the last and the ninth Nawab of Pataudi, nicknamed ‘Tiger Pataudi.’ He was the son of Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan, the eight nawab. Both father and son were sports freak, as the eight nawab was a polo player and died while playing polo on Mansoor’s eighth B’day.

Tiger Pataudi was a right-handed batsman and bowler. He played 46 tests for India. It is said that he brought a must-win attitude in the Indian and made them believe that we in the older lot, he was the one who made Indians believe that they could win and worked towards it. 

Under him India won first ever test match overseas against New Zealand in 1968. This win came even after a serious handicap and that was his eye injury. His being a sportsperson with just one eye is a benchmark in the history of sports.

He was awarded with Arjuna Award in 1964 and Padma Shri in 1967.

MANSOOR ALI KHAN PATAUDI- 5 JAN 1941-22 SEPT 2011 (RIP)