Legendary cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi's son and Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan on Friday thanked the media and all well-wishers, who stood in support for his family following the demise of his father. "I would just like to thank everyone for their very kind wishes. I would also say that he would have been very touched by the support and the wonderful things that the media has said. And I would like to thank all his contemporaries and fellow cricketers, who have written such beautiful things in the papers," said Saif Ali Khan. "And indeed all his friends, who have passed on their wishes to us and as family, we thank you for your support," he added. Pataudi, who breathed his last at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi on Thursday evening, was buried at the family's burial ground in Pataudi, 26 km from Gurgaon, earlier today. The Haryana Government made elaborate security arrangements for the solemn occasion at Pataudi's ancestral village.

A team of commandos and local police was deployed at the village to regulate the rush of fans, who gathered in large numbers to catch a last glimpse of their last Nawab. Seventy-year-old Pataudi was admitted to the hospital on August 29 following a severe lung infection. Pataudi, who was nicknamed Tiger, was the ninth and last Nawab of Pataudi until 1971, when India abolished royal titles through the 26th Amendment to the Constitution of India.

Pataudi, regarded as one of the finest Indian captains, played 46 Tests for the country, scoring 2,793 runs for an average of 34.91 with an unbeaten 203 being his highest score. In all, he smashed six centuries and 16 fifties during his career. Pataudi is survived by his wife celebrated actress Sharmila Tagore, son Saif Ali Khan and daughters Soha Ali Khan and Saba Ali Khan.