Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi

Born into the royal family of Pataudi, Iftikhar Ali Khan was educated at Oxford, where he excelled in cricket, earning his Blue. He was a stylish right-handed batsman known for his elegant strokeplay and was regarded as one of the finest amateur players of his era.¹

He made his Test debut for England in 1932, scoring a century at Sydney, and played two more Tests for England. After Indian independence, he switched allegiance to India, captaining the side in 1946 against England, becoming one of the few players to represent two nations in Test cricket.²

His captaincy was marked by diplomatic challenges, as he led a young Indian team on a demanding tour. Despite limited success, he laid groundwork for future Indian cricket. His son, Mansur Ali Khan, also captained India, continuing the family's cricketing legacy.³

Beyond cricket, Pataudi was a polo player and served as a diplomat. He was one of the few cricketers to have played for two Test nations, a rarity in the sport's history. His early death at 41 cut short a potential administrative career in Indian cricket.⁴

Nawab

A title for a Muslim ruler or nobleman in India.

Test cricket

The highest level of international cricket, played between national teams.