Despite losing sight in one eye, the late Prince chose not to give up his passion

Take any sport in the world, and there is no shortage of players chasing their passion while overcoming odds and numerous hurdles. Cricket has no shortage of such stories, and one story belongs to Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, the Nawab of Pataudi, who gave India its first overseas Test win against New Zealand in 1967.

On Pataudi’s 14th death anniversary, we celebrate the one-eyed Tiger who left quite an impression on the 22 yards against the best of opponents in cricket.

Cricket inheritance

Once upon a time, cricket was truly a game for the elites, given how expensive kits were. Therefore, it is no surprise that Iftikhar Ali Khan, the father of Pataudi, who was the ruler of the Pataudi province, was a cricketer. Not only a cricketer but a good one who played 127 First-Class matches and three Tests each for England and independent India.

(Credit- News24Online)

Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi inherited cricket from his father and got much better at it, becoming the captain at Winchester College in Hampshire. He made his County Championship debut for Sussex at the age of 16 and also scored the fastest 100 in his first varsity match, like his father.

On the field within a week

In 1961, when everything was working well in Pataudi’s career as a budding cricketer, tragedy hit him when he met with an accident in Hove. Glass shrapnel had penetrated his right eye and left him without vision. At that point, cricket should’ve been over for any player but not Pataudi.

(Credit- Old Indian Photos)

Five months after the incident, the Prince made his Test debut against England, and in the third match of the series, the Prince scored a century. Mansoor Ali played 46 Test matches in which he scored 2,793, including six centuries and 16 50s. Apart from helping India win against New Zealand overseas, he also introduced the idea of using three spinners in the bowling line-up.

(Credit- Hindustan Times)

Not to forget, the late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi also holds the record for facing the maximum number of balls (554) in Test history while batting at number six.

Cricket beyond career

Even after retiring from cricket, Pataudi’s association with cricket continued. He was the Indian team’s manager in 1974 and 1975 and also refereed two Ashes games in 1993. Tiger was also a member of the Indian Premier League (IPL) council.

(Credit- India Today)

On September 22, 2011, after suffering from chronic interstitial lung disease, Tiger Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi left for his heavenly abode, bidding goodbye to the world. In his honour, the BCCI instituted the Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi Memorial Lecture.