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Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi

Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi (1910–1952) was an Indian cricketer and the eighth Nawab of Pataudi, a princely state in present-day Haryana. He holds the rare distinction of having played Test cricket for both England and India, and was the captain of the Indian cricket team on its tour of England in 1946.

Key facts

Full name Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi
Born 16 March 1910
Died 5 January 1952
Title Nawab of Pataudi (8th)
Batting style Right-handed
Test debut for England 1932–33 (Bodyline series, Australia)
Test debut for India 1946, England
Captained India 1946 tour of England
University Balliol College, Oxford
Spouse Sajida Sultan, Begum of Bhopal
Notable son Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi

Background

Iftikhar Ali Khan was born into the ruling family of Pataudi, a small Muslim princely state located near Delhi. He succeeded as the Nawab of Pataudi in 1917 following the death of his father, Ibrahim Ali Khan. He was educated in India before going up to Balliol College, University of Oxford, where he earned a Blue in cricket.

Cricket career

Oxford and county cricket

At Oxford, Pataudi was an outstanding batsman in the university side. In the 1931 University Match against Cambridge at Lord's, he scored 238 not out, then a record for the fixture. He also played county cricket for Worcestershire in the English first-class circuit during the 1930s.

Test cricket for England

Pataudi was selected for the England tour of Australia in 1932–33, the famous "Bodyline" series led by Douglas Jardine. He scored a century (102) on his Test debut at Sydney, becoming one of a small group of cricketers to do so. He fell out with Jardine over the leg-theory tactics used during the series and played only a limited number of further Tests for England.

Test cricket for India

After Indian independence movements gained momentum and Indian cricket sought its own identity in international cricket, Pataudi accepted the captaincy of India for the tour of England in 1946. He led the side in three Test matches against England under Wally Hammond, with the series being lost 1–0. The tour was significant as one of India's earliest Test engagements after wartime.

As Nawab

As ruler of Pataudi, Iftikhar Ali Khan administered the small state until the integration of the princely states into the Indian Union after 1947. He married Sajida Sultan, daughter of the Nawab of Bhopal, linking the houses of Pataudi and Bhopal.

Death and legacy

Pataudi died on 5 January 1952 in New Delhi, reportedly while playing polo. He was succeeded as titular Nawab by his son Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, who later went on to captain India in Test cricket and became one of the most celebrated Indian cricketers of the post-independence era. His grandson is the Hindi film actor Saif Ali Khan.

The Pataudi Trophy, contested between India and England in Test series played in England, was instituted in 2007 to commemorate the cricketing legacy of the Pataudi family, including Iftikhar Ali Khan's unique status as a Test player for both nations.

Significance

  • One of only a handful of cricketers to have represented two countries in Test cricket.
  • Scored a century on Test debut for England during the Bodyline series.
  • Held the highest individual score in the Oxford v Cambridge University Match for many decades.
  • Captained India on a major Test tour at a critical juncture before independence.
  • Founder of a multi-generational cricketing and public-life dynasty.

References