January 5, 2019, is a date of high significance in Indian cricket as it is the 79th birth anniversary of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi aka Nawab of Pataudi. The legendary player is one of the most prominent personalities in world cricket and his contribution to the game is immense. Born in Bhopal, the right-handed batsman was a prolific leader who inducted the habit of winning in the Indian side. Pataudi was born with cricket in his veins as his father Iftikar Ali Khan Pataudi also played cricket at the highest level and Mansoor forwarded the legacy with grace. Kareena Kapoor Khan Wants Taimur to Follow his Grandfather's Footsteps and be a Cricketer.

Life wasn’t quite easy from Pataudi as his right-eye got damaged in a car accident. Many would have believed that the player’s dream of playing cricket will get diminished. However, giving up wasn’t some Pataudi knew and he made his international debut just six months later the accident. In fact, the batsman was known to time the ball to perfection which seems impossible for someone who has sight issues. Nevertheless, Pataudi’s life was filled with wonders and below, we’ll look at some lesser-known facts about him. Mithali Raj Gifts an Autographed Bat to Soha Ali Khan’s Baby Inaaya, Thinks There’s Cricket in Her Blood!

  1. Mansoor Ali Khan was born with a silver spoon as he lived in a palace which had 150 rooms and more than 100 servants with seven or eight being the personal care-taker of Pataudi only.

  2. His father Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi played International cricket for both India and England.

  3. He got the nickname Tiger Pataudi in his infancy only. In his autobiography, the former cricketer revealed that he got the title because of his tigerish propensity for crawling energetically about the floor on all fours.

  4. Making his Test captaincy debut at the age of 21 years and 77 days, Pataudi is the youngest cricketer to lead India in the longest format of the game.

  5. The legendary cricketer lead India in 40 of his 46-Test career and guided his side victory in nine matches.

  6. He married actress Sharmila Tagore on December 27, 1969. His son Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan went on to become Bollywood actors while his other daughter Saba Ali Khan became a jewellery designer.

  7. Pataudi also tried his hands in politics and was given a ticket from Congress in Bhopal.

  8. In 2013, BCCI started the Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi Memorial Lecture in the remembrance of the former cricketer. Sunil Gavaskar delivered the inaugural lecture on February 6, 2013.

On September 22, 2011, Nawab Pataudi took his last breath and Indian cricket lost one of its legends. Nevertheless, the current Indian team have certainly emerged as a formidable force in World Cricket and the fact must certainly make the legend proud, wherever he is.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 05, 2020 08:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).