NEW DELHI: Former and current greats of the game paid their tributes to Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, who died after suffering from a severe lung infection in a hospital here on Thursday.
The present chairman of selectors, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, expressed his shock over the death of the 70-year-old, saying India have lost one of the legends of the game.
"It's quite shocking that the great man is not with us any more. It is very sad because we have lost one of the most determined and stylish cricketer in the Indian past.
"I always thought that he brought style to the Indian cricket. He was termed as one of the most attacking cricketer of his time. He was quite a fun-loving guy with a terrific sense of humour.
"Whenever there was any important meeting, he always came and gave his views. He always gave suggestions but never imposed them to anyone. Legacy which he left for cricket is just amazing," said Srikkanth.
Sachin Tendulkar paid tribute to Pataudi, saying that world cricket will badly miss a hero like him.
"It's a terrible loss to the cricketing world. I had the privilege of meeting him on a few occasions. World cricket will miss a hero like him. I really respected him," Tendulkar said in his condolence message.
Sunil Gavaskar also expressed shock at the demise of Pataudi, whom he called the most charismatic cricketer of his generation.
"This is very sad news indeed. Only a few weeks ago we saw him in England at the presentation of the Pataudi Trophy and he looked his usual self. Therefore to get this news is a shock," Gavaskar said in a statement.
"Tiger Pataudi was the most charismatic cricketer of his generation. To bat with almost zero vision in one eye and still to score nearly 3000 runs and half a dozen centuries in Test cricket tells you what a genius he was. He will be terribly missed and it's a huge loss to the game of cricket," he said.
Another former cricketer and now a TV commentator Sanjay Manjrekar remembered what his father Vijay Manjrekar used to say about the Nawab of cricket.
"My father used to say to me that everyone had great respect for Mr. Pataudi. When he was captain of the India team and when other players were in awe of the opposition, Pataudi always felt that they are on par with the opposition and he never felt inferior to the opposition whether it was England or Australia.
"His self-confidence always reflected the way he batted and the way he conducted himself on the field. He came from a royal and privileged family, but he was a street-smart cricketer," said Manjrekar.
Former player Abbas Ali Baig commended the insight the 70-year-old had about the game as he played a key role in the development of spinners like Bishan Singh Bedi and BS Chandrasekhar and S Venkatraghvan.
"He had an instinctive thing about the game and he was able to quickly graft what is happening on the field. Pataudi knew that India did not have good pace bowling and there was no one to discuss about it then, so he quickly grasped the act of spin bowling and he developed sipnners like Bedi and Chandershekhar and Venkatraghavan. He had a marvelous insight in the game," said Baig.
Mohinder Amarnath, too, reflected back on some moments he shared with Pataudi early on in his career.
"I remember having played my first Test under Tiger captaincy. He was a fantastic man and a great cricketer. He was a real person to look up to when he was playing cricket in the 60s and 70s.
"He showed a lot of aggression in his play and as a captain, he used to set example in the field. He was an outstanding fielder of his days which was rare to see at that time. There was no match to his fielding at that time. He had positive mindset which helped youngsters to groom under him."
The former Indian player Anil Kumble also expressed his shock over the demise of Pataudi, saying he was one of the most gentle person he had ever met.
"I knew him very closely since past eight years when we worked for players’ association. He readily agreed to be the President of players’ association. He was one of the most gentle person I ever met. He was the role model for the players’ association and used to drive us forward and give fresh ideas.
The legendary Imran Khan said he was devastated after hearing the news of Pataudi's death.
"I am devastated with this news. When I first came to India as a young boy, I was a Test cricketer and I met him in Hyderabad where we played a benefit match.
"I always heard from his contemporaries that if Pataudi had not lost an eye in an accident, he would have apparently been a genius. With one eye what he achieved was outstanding because it is difficulty for any batsman to play with one eye.
"He was a glamorous figure in Pakistan. We in Pakistan used to look upon him as a cricketer who was a crowd-puller," said Imran.
The Wall of Indian team, Rahul Dravid, said, "He was a legend for us and we have never seen him play.
"He was a romantic figure, an absolute legend. I have always heard stories of Tiger, how he changed Indian cricket. He had a huge impact beyond his sheer performance in the cricket field. He was a huge inspirational figure. Even after so many years whenever you talk to legends of cricket, they always talk about him with awe and respect.
"He will definitely go down as an all time great, who had influenced not only on the cricket field but beyond it as well. He made the game popular in India with his sheer personality and performances. He led the team in the different way. He was a leader for us and he always stood with the current lot of players. In 2002 when we had problem with ICC with the central contract system, Mr. Pataudi backed us along with Madan Lal," said Dravid.
Famous TV commentator Harsha Bhogle said, "It was a great moment of my life when I met him. He did so much for Indian cricket and I hope we don't put numbers in the Obit tomorrow, the numbers won't tell you the story.
"How will you get to know how great cricketer was he when he just had one eye to see the ball?” asked Bhogle.
"He was a stunning fielder and I hope we don't measure people like Tiger Pataudi with numbers. He brought respect to Indian cricketers, he nurtured spinners. He had an aura about himself," he added.
Nari Contractor, who captained Tiger Pataudi in his debut Test and whose head injury propelled Pataudi to the hot seat of Indian cricket as skipper, described him as a "true leader" and a "great batsman".
The 77-year-old felt Pataudi's outstanding fielding ability has seldom been matched in Indian cricket.
"He was the youngest member of the side, elegant, fun loving," Contractor recalled.
"He was a talented batsmen, capable of making swashbuckling strokes. And as a fielder, I think if you had pitted him against any member of the present Indian team, he would have been a shade better," he said.
"My association with him was short. He never played under me in the West Indies tour. But when I got injured and returned home, he took over as captain," Contractor recalled.
"Leading India during those times was difficult. We did not have proper pacers. He, however, got the famous spinners (B.S. Bedi, B.S. Chandrasekhar, EAS Prasanna and S. Venkatraghavan). He was a true leader. I have admired him from outside."
Meanwhile, stylish former Test batsman Gundappa R. Vishwanath credited Pataudi for his cricketing career during the late '60s and '70s.
"It was a privilege and honour to have played under Pataudi those years. I was fortunate to be inspired and guided by him. I owe my cricketing career to him." Vishwanath said.
Recalling his long association with the former Test captain, Vishwanath said Tiger had an uncanny ability to spot talent and was instrumental in his selection to play against Australia in the 1969 home series.
"Though Tiger was from North and I was from South and played against each other in Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy tournaments many times, he insisted on my inclusion in the Test team to play against Australia," Vishwanath said.
"It's all over for me. I can't imagine that our Tiger is no more. It's a saddest day in my life. It was because of him that I played for India much earlier than I would have otherwise. I learnt a lot from him. He was a rare captain and a great human being," an emotional Vishwanath recounted.
Former offie Erapalli Prasanna, who played a number of Tests under Tiger's captaincy, said he could not believe that Pataudi was no more.
"Pataudi was a friend, philosopher and guide to me. Indian cricket was fortunate to have a great player like Tiger who laid the foundation for the growth of the game and made it popular."