Mumbai: Bishan Singh Bedi, the iconic Indian cricketer and former national team captain, passed away at the age of 77 after a prolonged period of illness. Bedi had been ailing for the last two years and had undergone several surgeries during this time, including a knee surgery about a month ago. He is survived by his wife, Anju, and their two children, Neha and Angad.
A Cricketing Icon
Bedi’s remarkable cricketing career spanned 12 years, during which he represented India in 67 Test matches and 10 One Day Internationals (ODIs). He made his mark as one of the most celebrated left-arm spinners of his era, securing 266 wickets in the longest format of the game, which was a record in Test cricket at the time of his retirement. He also contributed with seven wickets in his brief ODI career.
World Cup Glory
One of the standout moments in Bedi’s career was when he captained India during the inaugural Cricket World Cup. He was a vital presence in the 1979 World Cup, where India performed admirably. Notably, Bedi played a crucial role in India’s first-ever ODI victory, registering figures of 12-8-6-1 as India overcame East Africa during the World Cup.
Part of a Legendary Quartet
Bedi was renowned as part of India’s famous spin quartet, along with Erapalli Prasanna, BS Chandrasekhar, and S. Venkataraghavan. Together, they achieved numerous victories for the Indian cricket team.
Tributes Pour In
Following the news of Bishan Singh Bedi’s passing, tributes poured in from current and former Indian cricketers, including former India captain Anil Kumble, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, and many others. The cricketing community mourned the loss of a legendary figure who had made an indelible mark on the sport.
