Saif honours father Tiger Pataudi with cricketer Ian Botham: He was my hero

Key points

• Actor Saif Ali Khan remembered his father, former India captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, with warmth and admiration at the Tiger Pataudi Memorial Lecture 2026 in Kolkata on Tuesday evening.
• Joined by cricketer Ian Botham, Saif said Tiger Pataudi remained his “hero” and used the occasion to reflect on his father’s life, his love for cricket, and the qualities he left behind.
• Read Full Story Saif said the lecture was not only about looking back at Tiger Pataudi’s cricket career.
• It was also about marking the values he stood for, including leadership, courage, resilience and excellence.
• While the cricket world remembers him as one of India’s greatest captains, Saif said he remembered him first as a quiet father who always said what mattered.