Indian legend Bishan Bedi, widely considered as one of the greatest spin bowlers of all time, has died at the age of 77 following a prolonged battle with illness.
Bedi took 266 wickets in just 67 Test matches during the 1960s and 1970s, captaining the side in 22 of those, and was part of the famed Indian spin quartet that dominated across the course of those two decades.
Together with leg spinner Bhagwat Chandrasekhar and off spinners Erapalli Prasanna and Srinivas Venkataraghavan, Bedi played a key role in an attack that excelled in home conditions and helped conjure famous series victories away in England, New Zealand and the West Indies.
His tally of 1,560 first-class wickets remains a record among Indian bowlers, with 434 coming in the County Championship for Northamptonshire at an average of 20.89.
India is currently playing host to the Cricket World Cup, with fellow spinner Ravichandran Ashwin leading the tributes to Bedi on social media.
Sad to hear about the demise of the great Bishen Singh Bedi, apart from being a great cricketer, he was an affable person and went the extra mile to help young cricketers. 🙏🙏🙏
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) October 23, 2023
“Sad to hear about the demise of the great Bishen Singh Bedi,” he wrote. “Apart from being a great cricketer, he was an affable person and went the extra mile to help young cricketers.”
A legend of Indian cricket. RIP Bishan Singh Bedi Sir. My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones 🙏
— Mohammed Siraj (@mdsirajofficial) October 23, 2023
Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj added: “A legend of Indian cricket. RIP Bishan Singh Bedi Sir. My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.”
As well as his talent with ball in hand, Bedi was known for his willingness to hold power to account, often taking on authority, including his own national board, in a bid to advance players’ rights.
Deeply saddened by the passing of noted cricketer Shri Bishan Singh Bedi Ji. His passion for the sport was unwavering and his exemplary bowling performances led India to numerous memorable victories. He will continue to inspire future generations of cricketers. Condolences to his…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 23, 2023
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi paid tribute, writing: “Deeply saddened by the passing of noted cricketer Shri Bishan Singh Bedi Ji.
"His passion for the sport was unwavering and his exemplary bowling performances led India to numerous memorable victories. He will continue to inspire future generations of cricketers. Condolences to his family and admirers.”
