Nawab of Pataudi      

Full name Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (Nawab of)

Born January 5, 1941, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

Current age 68 years 310 days

Major teams India, Delhi, Hyderabad (India), Oxford University, Sussex

Also known as M A K Pataudi

Batting style Right-hand bat

Bowling style Right-arm medium

Education Winchester

Relation Father - Nawab of Pataudi snr, Nephew - SB Jung

Wisden overview
The Nawab of Pataudi - later Mansur Ali Khan - remains, arguably, India's greatest captain ever. Taking over the reins of the Indian team at the age of 21, barely months after being involved in a car accident that would impair the sight in his right eye forever, he led India in 40 of 46 Tests he played in, and won 12 of them. But more than anything else, he led Indian cricket out of its morass of defeatism and instilled in his fellow cricketers a belief that winning was possible. Under him, India achieved their first overseas Test victory against New Zealand in 1967. This he achieved by playing, as had become customary with him, three spinners, because he reckoned, against conventional thinking, that India's only chance lay in playing to their strengths. As a batsman he was boldly adventurous and unorthodox for his times, and unafraid to loft the ball over the infield. His Test average was a modest 34, but what he could have achieved with complete sight is a matter of conjecture. Sambit Bal

Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1968

Aug 13, 2007

Rahul Dravid receives the Pataudi Trophy from Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi

© Getty Images

1974

Mansur Ali Khan, the Nawab of Pataudi

© The Cricketer International

Sep 1965

Hanif Mohammad and the Nawab of Pataudi (Mansur Ali Khan) chat

© The Cricketer International

View the full index of related photos »