Indian cricket legend Bishan Singh Bedi passes away at 77 after battling with illness

Former Indian cricket team captain Bishan Singh Bedi has breathed his last at the age of 77 following an extended battle with illness. Bedi, a celebrated left-arm spinner who led the Indian team in 22 matches, was a prominent figure in Indian cricket from 1967 to 1979, participating in 67 Tests and claiming 266 wickets. Additionally, he represented India in 10 ODIs, securing a total of 7 wickets.

Regarded as one of India’s finest spin bowlers, Bedi played a pivotal role in the transformation of Indian spin bowling, alongside Erapalli Prasanna, BS Chandrasekhar, and S. Venkataraghavan. He was instrumental in India’s inaugural ODI triumph, where his figures of 12-8-6-1 limited East Africa to 120 runs during the 1975 World Cup. In domestic cricket, Bedi predominantly represented the Delhi team. Post-retirement, he assumed roles as a coach and mentor for numerous emerging cricketers in India. Beyond the cricket field, he also lent his voice as a commentator and pundit in the world of cricket.

Read More: ICC ODI World Cup 2023 Schedule

Known for his outspoken nature and refusal to mince words, Bedi was a candid critic when expressing his views on various aspects of the sport. Several cricketers, including former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan, paid tribute to the legendary spinner. Irfan wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Bishan Singh Bedi, one of our finest, is no longer with us. It’s a significant loss to the cricketing community. My heartfelt condolences to his family.”

Bedi briefly served as the manager of the Indian cricket team during their 1990 tours of New Zealand and England. He also held positions as a national selector and a mentor to aspiring spinners, such as Maninder Singh and Murali Kartik, who greatly valued his technical insights.

Here are some of the other Tweets in the memory of Bishan Singh Bedi: