Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, one of India’s most charismatic cricketers and a legendary batsman, passed away here on Thursday after battling a severe lung infection for the last few months, creating a void in the field of sports.
Pataudi, who was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on August 29 for treatment of interstitial lung disease which had flared up, following which he was hypoxic, died at around 5.55 pm on Thursday. His wife Sharmila Tagore and son Saif Ali Khan, along with actress Kareena Kapoor, were present in the hospital when famed cricketer passed away. It was learnt that Leader of the Opposition in the RS Arun Jaitely and sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan visited the hospital in the evening.
“He passed away around 5.55 pm. His condition had deteriorated since yesterday. He was suffering from interstitial lung disease (interstitial pneumonitis) which worsened rapidly inspite of the best treatment available,” Dr S.P. Byotra of department of medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said. “He was unable to maintain his oxygen level. He continued to remain in the ICU for nearly a month. He had this disease which had been static since the last three months and worsened very acutely over the last four weeks,” the doctor said.
Grieved over the death, vice-president Hamid Ansari, in a statement, said, “Pataudi’s contributions to the game of cricket throughout his life as a player, captain, coach and analyst need no elaboration. He embodied the quintessential gentleman of the game of cricket.”
The 70-year-old cricketer, known as Tiger in the cricket fraternity, is survived by his wife Sharmila Tagore, his actor son Saif Ali Khan and his two daughters — Soha and Saba Ali Khan. Paying tribute to Pataudi, information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni described him a “cricketing legend” and his death “an irreparable loss” to the country, especially to the cricketing fraternity. “We will always remember him for his innovative approach in popularising the game in the country,” she said.