Remembering Nawab of Pataudi and Historic Sporting Moments on His Birth Anniversary

Gustakhi Maaf Haryana — Pawan Kumar Bansal.

By our enlightened reader Navin Goyal

Remembering Nawab Pataudi

Today is the birthday of legendary triple international Sr. Pataudi — Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, who led India in three Tests in England in 1946 and also played hockey and billiards. Others born on this day include Australian batsman-turned-coach Dav Whatmore (1954), former Chief of the Indian Army Bipin Rawat (1958), cine actor Rajpal Yadav (1971), and Sonika Mittal (Sagavi) (1982).

In 1877, Charles Bannerman of Australia scored 165 retired hurt against England in Melbourne — the first century in Test cricket history.

In 1977, the first ODI match on Caribbean soil was played, in which West Indies beat Pakistan by four wickets in Guyana in a 45-overs-a-side match.

In 2004, India, chasing 330 to win against Pakistan, were all out for 317 despite Sachin Tendulkar scoring 141, and lost the ODI by 12 runs in Rawalpindi.

In 2007, during the ODI World Cup, Herschelle Gibbs of South Africa blasted six sixes in an over bowled by Daan van Bunge of the Netherlands.

In 2012, in the Asia Cup ODI tournament, India lost to Bangladesh although Tendulkar scored his 100th international century.

In 2018, P. V. Sindhu beat Japan’s top badminton player Nozomi Okuhara 20-22, 21-18, 21-18 and reached the All England semifinal.

In 2022, in the Women’s ODI World Cup, fancied India were all out for 134 in 36.2 overs and lost to England (136/6) by four wickets with 112 balls remaining in Mount Maunganui.

In 2023, in the WPL, Gujarat Giants (147/4) beat Delhi Capitals (136) by 11 runs at Brabourne Stadium.

In 2023, India’s first-ever cloned cow named Ganga was born through the efforts of scientists at Karnal’s National Dairy Research Institute.

In 2024, India’s long drought at the All England Badminton Championships continued as Lakshya Sen lost in the semifinals of the prestigious event in Birmingham.