The 70-year-old cricketer, known as 'Tiger' in the cricket fraternity, was suffering from interstitial lung disease, a condition in which the passage of oxygen to the two lungs is less than normal.

He is survived by his wife Sharmila Tagore, his actor son Saif Ali Khan and his two daughters Soha and Saba Ali Khan.

“He passed away around 5.55 pm. His condition had deteriorated since Wednesday. He was suffering from interstitial lung disease (interstitial pneumonitis) which worsens rapidly in spite of the best treatment available,” said Dr SP Byotra of the department of medicine in Shri Ganga Ram Hospital, where Pataudi was admitted, said.

Pataudi was admitted in the hospital last month.

'He was unable to maintain his oxygen level in spite of maximal treatment. He continued to remain in the ICU for nearly a month. He had this disease which had been static since the last three months and worsened very acutely over the last four weeks”, the doctor said.

After investigations, he was found to be suffering from interstitial lung disease, a condition in which the passage of oxygen to the two lungs is less than normal.

“The possibility of lung transplant was discussed very early as soon as his condition worsened but he was not a suitable candidate for it,” Dr Byotra said.

He was being treated by a by a team of pulmonologists and critical care specialists here.

Pataudi, who lost his right eye in an accident, played 46 Test Matches between 1961 and 1975, scoring 2793 runs for an average of 34.91 with an unbeaten 203 being his highest score. In all, he smashed six centuries and 16 fifties in his career.

He took over leadership of the team while playing his fourth Test Match, when he was only 21 years old, in Barbados in 1962, because the regular captain Nari Contractor was in hospital after being hit on the head by the bowler Charlie Griffith.

Pataudi, who was also known for his amazing sense of humour, was the youngest Test captain, a record that stood until 2004. He led India in 40 Tests and had a successful career despite impaired vision in his right eye, which was damaged in a car accident. He also captained Sussex and Oxford University.