Renowned Indian cricketer and former captain, Bishan Bedi, who left an indelible mark as a left-arm spinner in the 1960s and 1970s, sadly breathed his last on October 23 after a prolonged illness.
The cricket icon had been battling an extended illness and had undergone multiple surgeries recently.
Bedi’s exceptional skills as a player left batsmen in awe throughout his illustrious 12-year Test career, both in India and England. His remarkable performances earned him a well-deserved place in the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
Over the years, Bedi played various roles within the cricketing world, starting as a cricketer and even briefly managing the Indian cricket team.
He was a key member of the renowned India spin quartet from that era, alongside Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, and Srinivas Venkataraghavan.
Making his Test debut at Eden Gardens in 1966 and concluding his career at The Oval in 1979, Bedi participated in 67 Tests, taking a total of 266 wickets at an impressive average of 28.71.
He achieved 14 five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul during his career, with his career-best figures of 7/98 occurring against Australia at the Eden Gardens in 1969.
While he also had a brief stint as an ODI cricketer, a format that gained prominence later in his career, he managed to claim seven wickets in his ten matches.
Geoff Allardice, the Chief Executive of the ICC, expressed his condolences at Bedi’s passing, emphasizing that the spinner’s mastery of flight and turn would be remembered for generations to come.
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