Legendary Cricketer

In the death of former cricket captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, the nation has lost a very brave son in general and the Indian cricket has lost an invaluable inspirational force in particular.
Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, one of India’s greatest cricket captains, breathed his last at Sir Ganga Ram hospital due to respiratory failure leading to cardiac arrest. He was 70.
In an international career of 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. He would have achieved unprecedented success with his bat if he had not lost the one good eye. His dazzling career in cricket flourished to its full potential with full vision.
No one relished scoring at a brisk pace and hooking the fastest of bowlers with one eye as he did. He was also unafraid to step out and play lofted shots against spinners.
It is the credit of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, who was lovingly known as Tiger, to make Indian cricket popular outside the country. He was a dominating batsman, instinctive and thinking captain.
Pataudi was also one of the most successful Indian captains. It was during Tiger’s captaincy that the Indian cricket recorded victory in England and Newzealand for the first time.
Had the tragic car accident not taken place in which he lost one eye, he would have taken the Indian cricket during his captaincy itself to majestic high. The chief quality of his personality was that he always kept nation above everything else. He infused a sense of superiority into his teammates in order to keep their moral always high on the ground.
Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi had also exemplary courage, and because of that he played with extra-ordinary reflexes even after the accident in which he lost an eye. His dedication and devotion to the game of cricket is unmatchable.
Pataudi was very stylish, which amply reflected in his day to day life and play. He was also very aggressive in batting who had created havoc among the world’s best bowlers of his time. His death has created a vacuum that is difficult to fill. He inspired his teammates to do better and better and gave enough opportunity to flourish and make name in the world cricket.
It was during his captaincy that world famous spin quartet flourished and dominated the world cricket. He married Sharmila Tagore, who is equally famous and popular heroine of her time of Indian cinema. She is also the most prestigious bollywood personality.
As Tiger belonged to the aristocratic family of Pataudi of Bhopal, he was like an aristocrat in his batting. He must also be credited with making the player always hungry for victory. He understood well that unless and untill the players would have hunger for victory, they could not put every thing into their game on the field. He was one of the most able leaders of the game of cricket, that India has lost.