Sports Desk: Bishan Singh Bedi, former India captain and legendary spinner has died at the age of 77 on Monday. Over the last two year, Bedi was down with ailing health during which he underwent numerous medical procedures, including a knee surgery approximately one month ago. He is survived by his wife Anju, and two children, Neha and Angad.
“The BCCI mourns the sad demise of former India Test Captain and legendary spinner, Bishan Singh Bedi. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and fans in these tough times. May his soul rest in peace,” read an X post from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Bedi, a veteran of 67 Tests between in a 12-year-career spanning between 1967 and 1979, was one of India’s most celebrated cricketers. Bedi, along with Erapalli Prasanna, BS Chandrasekhar and S. Venkataraghavan, formed the most lethal spin quartet in the history of Indian cricket, one that revolutionised the art of spin bowling worldwide.
A Padma Shri winner in 1970, Bedi also went on to captain India in 22 Tests and played India’s first-ever ODI against East Africa in 1975 where he bowled 12 overs, eight maidens, gave away six runs and picked one wicket. Bedi is widely considered the game’s greatest left-arm spinner.
Making his Test debut against Australia in 1969-70, Bedi finished the series with 21 wickets. And there was no looking back. After grabbing 25 wickets against England, another 18 against West Indies, 22 more against England and 25 and 31 again versus England and Australia, Bedi, really was, in the truest sense, one of the greatest spinners of all time.