The legendary left arm bowler of Indian cricket who’d captained the Indian cricket team in 22 matches and a popular name in Indian cricket, seventy seven years old Bishen Singh Bedi breathed his last today sending shock waves in the country, especially amongst old cricket lovers. He died after a prolonged illness. According to news reports he had a surgery two week’s ago, and was hospitalised in Delhi since then.
Briefly the manager of Indian cricket team in 1990 during the tours of New Zealand and England and also the national selector as well as mentor to many dexterous renowned spin bowlers like Maninder Singh and Murli Kartik etc legendary left arm spinner Bishan Singh Bedi was a well known cricketer primarily a prominent left arm bowler from 1967 to 1979 playing for the Indian team in 67 tests climing 266 wickets bringing laurels for the cricket team and the nation.
Late Bishan Singh Bedi was credited for taking seven wickets in 10 One Day Internationals. Considered to be one of an outstanding spinners and choice of one and all during the seventies Bishen Singh Bedi was an institution in himself especially known as the Architect of spin bowling in India with lots of cricketers like Murali Kartik, Maninder Singh spinners considering him to be their mentor who trained them to the hilt.
His fellow spinners and googly bowlers, eminent cricketers / bowlers like Prassanna, B. S. Chandrashekhar and S. Venkata Raghvan and Bishan Singh Bedi contributed immensely by way of their important role in the first ever one day victory.
According to NDTV sports the Bedi’s figures of 12-8-6-1 held East Africa to 120 runs in 1975 World Cup.
Recipient of prestigious PADAM SHRI in 1970 and the C. K. Naidu Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 Bishen Singh Bedi started his cricketing career at the age of 15 years when he played for the very first time for Northern Punjab and shifted to Delhi in 1968-69. He impressed one and all by taking 64 wickets in 1974-75 Ranji Trophy season , which was a record. According to Wikipedia :
Bedi also represented Northamptonshire in English county cricket or many years. He finished his career with 1560 wickets in first-classic cricket – more than any other Indian.
His bowling has been described as graceful, even beautiful, and full of guile and artistry. He was an expert in flighting the ball, and was capable of making it hold it back or hurry forward and added subtle variations of spin. His action was so relaxed and coordinated that he was able to bowl all day with rhythm and control, a great asset to any captain. He had several very successful Test series:
- India vs Australia 1969–70: 21 wickets at the average of 20.57
- India vs England 1972–73: 25 wickets at the average of 25.28
- India in the West Indies Indies 1975–1976 : 18 wickets at the average of 25.33
- India vs New Zealand 1976–77: 22 wickets at the average of 13.18
- India vs England 1976–77: 25 wickets at the average of 22.96
- India in Australia 1977–78: 31 wickets at the average of 23.87
His best Test bowling was 7/98 against Australia at Calcutta in 1969–70, and his best match figures 10/194 at Perth in 1977–78, also against Australia. His best first class bowling was 7/5 for Delhi vs Jammu and Kashmir at New Delhi 1974–75. Although his batting was poor he hit a boundary off the second last ball in the Gillette Cup Semi Final for Northamptonshire vs Hampshire, winning the match by two wickets. His highest score of 50 not out, his only half century at Test level, was scored against New Zealand in Kanpur in 1976.
Bedi was appointed captain of India in 1976, succeeding Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. His first Test victory as captain was against the West Indies at Port-of-Spain in the 3rd Test of the 1976 series in which India scored a then-record 406 in the fourth innings.This was followed up by a 2–0 series victory over New Zealand at home. However, after successive Test series losses to England (3–1 at home), Australia (3–2 away) and Pakistan (2–0 away), he was replaced by Sunil Gawaskar.
Bedi is second to Lance Gibbs in terms of maiden overs per test, 16.35 against 16.62. He has bowled 4.2 maiden overs per wicket as against 4.24 by Gibbs.
In 2008, Wisden Cricketers Almanack named Bedi as one of the five best cricketers to have not been selected as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year.
He said that he has always washed his own clothes, calling it “the best exercise for your shoulders and fingers”, when pointing out that spin bowling requires suppleness of limbs.
Eminent left arm spin bowler and a cricketing legend Bishen Singh Bedi has left behind his wife Anju, son and Actor Angad Bedi married to Bollywood actor Neha Dhupia. RIP.
Prominent journalist Rajdeep Sardesai while condoling over the sad demise of iconic bowler Bishan Singh Bedi in his condolence message in X wrote : I have very sad news to share: the legendary Bishen Bedi, arguably the greatest left arm spinner this country has produced, a larger than life sportsman who always fought the cricket board establishment for players rights, has passed away. Will be much missed. RIP. Another journalist Sagarika Gosh wrote on X, earlier Twitter : RIP. A great human being, a bon vivant full of fun, warmth and goodwill for all, yet with a fierce sense of right and wrong. Mr Bedi will be missed. The senior Congress leader , communication chief n former union minister Jairam Ramesh in his condolence message in X wrote : one of India’s all time cricket legends, Bishen Singh Bedi, is sadly no more. He was an outstanding spin bowler amd a member of the framed quartet. On and off the field, he was a charming and colourful personality who spoke his mind fearlessly at all times. A conversation with him was always enthralling. He will remain enshrined in our hearts and minds, tweeted Jairam Ramesh.
Rest in Peace!