The former Nawab of Pataudi, Mansur Ali Khan was at Oxford when he met with a car accident and lost the sight of his right eye. In a month's time, he was at the nets, learning to play with one eye. A brave and adventurous batsman, he liked to loft the ball into empty spaces in the field and was one of the finest cover fielders the world has ever seen. Despite his handicap, 'Tiger' Pataudi never lost his sense of humour. In fact, if his teammates are to be believed, he was a great practical joker.
In the early 70's, he is once said to have taken the Indian cricket team on a hunting expedition at his estate in Bhopal. At one place, some of the younger members of the team were surrounded by 'dacoits', who threatened to kill them. 'Tiger' Pataudi watched from afar as the players cried and begged for their lives. Having had enough fun at their expense, he then ordered his servants - whom he had asked to pose as dacoits - to release them.
Gundappa Vishwanath who shivers at the thought of that incident, still does not believe that the ambush was stage-managed by 'Tiger'!
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