Taimur Ali Khan to continue Pataudi's sporting legacy? Kareena Kapoor says son dreams of playing cricket internationally

Taimur Ali Khan eyes global sporting career, Kareena Kapoor says son wants to play cricket internationally

Mumbai: Could Taimur Ali Khan become the next member of the Pataudi family to make a mark in sport? Kareena Kapoor has revealed that her elder son already has ambitions of playing cricket or football at a global level.

In a recent conversation with Hanuman Dass, Kareena spoke about her children's interests and said Taimur is currently deeply into sports. According to the actor, her son has told her that he wants to play either cricket or football on the international stage.

‘He wants to play football or cricket on a global stage’

Kareena said Taimur is clear about his current ambition and that she and Saif Ali Khan are encouraging him to pursue it.

She also stressed that his plans could change as he grows older. For Kareena, the important thing is to give her children the freedom to discover their own interests.

The actor pointed out that being born into a family of actors does not mean her children have to enter Bollywood. She said she wants to provide them with experiences and support whichever direction they eventually choose.

Taimur has already started learning cricket

Taimur's interest in cricket is not entirely new.

The youngster has previously attended cricket coaching sessions in London, including training at the indoor nets at Lord's Cricket Ground. Former England international Usman Afzaal was associated with the coaching session.

A video from one such session showed Saif explaining the family's connection with English county cricket to his son.

Saif reportedly told Taimur that his great-grandfather played for Worcestershire while his grandfather captained Sussex—a glimpse into the cricketing history that runs through the Pataudi family.

The Pataudi cricket legacy

Taimur has an extraordinary cricketing heritage on his father's side.

His grandfather, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, was one of India's most celebrated cricketers and captained the Indian team. His great-grandfather, Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, also played Test cricket for both India and England.

Interestingly, Taimur's father Saif chose acting rather than cricket, following his mother Sharmila Tagore into the film industry.

Now, Taimur's growing interest in the sport has naturally led to comparisons with his illustrious grandfather.

Kareena wants Taimur and Jeh to finish their education

While Kareena is supportive of her son's sporting ambitions, she has also made education a priority.

The actor recently spoke about her own regret at leaving formal education after Class 11. She said she wants both Taimur and his younger brother Jeh Ali Khan to complete their studies before deciding what career path they want to follow.

For Kareena, therefore, Taimur becoming a professional sportsperson is a possibility—but not something that should come at the expense of his education.

Taimur's favourite world of sport

Taimur's sporting interests extend beyond cricket. Kareena has previously revealed that he is also fascinated by football and follows international footballers.

She has described herself as both a “football mom” and “cricket mom”, reflecting her children's enthusiasm for sport. Taimur has reportedly shown particular interest in stars such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Lionel Messi.

For now, Taimur is still a child exploring his interests. Whether he eventually chooses cricket, football, acting or an entirely different career remains to be seen.

But if his current passion for cricket continues, the Pataudi family's sporting legacy could one day have a new generation carrying the bat.