Former India captain and veteran of 67 Tests, Bishan Singh Bedi passed away at the age of 77. He was supported by his son Angad Bedi. Born on September 25, 1946, in Amritsar, Punjab, Bishan is a legendary figure in Indian cricket. Renowned as one of India's finest left-arm spinners, he has left an indelible mark on the sport.
Bishan stepped into the international arena in 1966, playing against the West Indies. His classical approach to left-arm spin bowling, combined with his precision in line, length, and ability to turn the ball on even unresponsive pitches, set him apart.
Throughout his Test career, spanning from 1966 to 1979, Bedi donned the Indian jersey in 67 matches, claiming 266 wickets with an impressive average of 28.71. This feat positioned him as one of the top wicket-takers for India during his era.
Beyond his bowling prowess, Bedi also led the Indian cricket team as its captain between 1976 and 1978. His leadership was characterised by a strong emphasis on discipline and team values. One of his crowning achievements as captain was steering India to a Test series victory against the formidable West Indies in 1976.
He was instrumental in India's maiden ODI victory during a 1975 World Cup match against East Africa. His economical bowling stats of 12-8-6-1 helped limit East Africa to just 120 runs.
Bedi, alongside former legends Erapalli Prasanna, BS Chandrasekhar, and S. Venkataraghavan, played a pivotal role in reshaping the narrative of spin bowling in India's cricketing history.
Representing Delhi in domestic cricket, Bishan stands as one of the top wicket-takers among Indians in First-Class cricket, boasting 1,560 wickets from 370 matches.
As the captain of India, Bishan Bedi won six Tests out of 22, losing 11 and drawing 5.
In recognition of his immense contribution to Indian cricket, he was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 1973.
After hanging up his boots, Bedi continued to serve the cricketing community as a commentator and coach, imparting his spin wisdom to budding cricketers at various levels.
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