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.
| 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 |
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.