Mumbai, Sep 22: Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, the former captain of the Indian Test team, has died in Delhi at the age of 70. Pataudi had been admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi in August following a severe lung infection. Investigations revealed he was suffering from interstitial lung disease, a condition in which the passage of oxygen to the two lungs is less than normal. Pataudi is survived by his wife Sharmila Tagore, his son Saif Ali Khan and his two daughters Soha and Saba Ali Khan.

BCCI President N. Srinivasan condoled the death of the cricketing legend.

“I am shocked to hear the news of Tiger Pataudi’s demise. He was an exemplary individual who guided Indian cricket to unprecedented heights, as batsman, fielder and captain. He revolutionised fielding standards in the Indian team, and across the country. In an age where a draw was considered as good as a win, Tiger Pataudi encouraged his players to go flat out for victory. He was an aggressive batsman who excelled in crisis situations and showed the nation how to combat adversity. I join my colleagues in the BCCI to express my condolences at his passing away. His services to Indian cricket will never be forgotten.”

Pataudi Junior, as he came to be known, represented India in 46 Test matches; he scored 2793 runs at an average of 34.91 with a highest score of 203* in an illustrious career. This despite the fact that he played most of his career after being involved in a car accident in 1961 that permanently impaired the vision in his right eye.

However, it was his captaincy that made him a legend of Indian cricket. He took over the mantle of skipper while only 21 years of age and in doing so become the youngest player ever to captain an international Test side. It was a record that stood until 2004 when Tatenda Taibu, at the age of 20 years and 358 days, became skipper of the Zimbabwe side in a Test match against Sri Lanka.

It was under Pataudi that India achieved their first overseas Test and series victory against New Zealand in 1968. In the 46 Test matches that he played for India, he captained the side in 40 Tests, winning nine of them.

Pataudi retired in 1975 after West Indies' tour of India. After retiring, Pataudi served as a match referee between 1993 and 1996.

Pataudi’s father, Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, represented both England and India in Tests. Owing to the family’s contribution to Anglo-Indian cricket, the bilateral Test series between India and England since 2007 have been contested for the Pataudi Trophy.

Pataudi Junior had taken ill since his return from England this summer where he had presented the Pataudi Trophy at the end of the four-Test series between England and India to host captain Andrew Strauss.