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Born: January 5, 1941, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Major teams: India, Delhi, Hyderabad, Oxford University, Sussex
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm medium
Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, the scion of erstwhile royal household of Pataudi, is considered one of the greatest Indian captains ever. Mansoor Ali Khan, popularly known as Nawab of Pataudi Junior or Tiger Pataudi, followed in the footsteps of his father Nawab of Pataudi Senior who captained India in 1946.
Making his Test debut for India against England at Delhi in 1961-62, Mansur Ali Khan aggregated 2,793 runs in 46 matches till 1974-75. Pataudi took over the reins of the Indian team on his first tour of West Indies in 1962, when captain Nari Contractor found himself at the receiving end of a Charlie Griffith snorter.
All of 21, Pataudi stood up to the task at hand and went on to become one of India's most successful captains. He made his fellow cricketers believe in themselves and led India to their first overseas Test victory against New Zealand in 1967.
The shrewd cricketing mind that he was, Pataudi realized that India must bank on its traditional strength of quality spin if it has to outsmart the big boys of international cricket. Thus spinners were the cornerstone of the nine Test victories India achieved under Pataudi.
