Bedi adored Pat, Hanumant; revered The Don

Bishan Singh Bedi with Hanumant Singh; (right) Sir Don Bradman

Two Indian cricketers whom Bishan Singh Bedi hugely admired were his first Test captain MAK Pataudi and teammate Hanumant Singh.

"If you want to talk about cricket, you should pick Chotu's brains (the late Hanumant's nickname)," Bedi would often say.

A friend of the departed India, Rajasthan and Central Zone batsman told this writer on Monday how Hanumant ensured Bedi's safe passage out of the dressing room in the 1966-67 Eden Gardens riots. It was Bedi's debut Test match - against Garry Sobers's West Indies.

Also Read: Sobers supported Bedi in 1976 Kingston incident

"He always said Hanu [another pet came for Hanumant] saved his life," the friend said.

As for the late Pataudi, Bedi credited the charismatic India captain for mentoring him in his own subtle way.

Bedi never tired from recalling how Pataudi ensured everyone in the team bonded well and spoke the same language with each other. Sir Don Bradman was another cricketer he admired. The great Australian and Bedi kept in touch through letters. Bradman is believed to have asked Bedi not to join Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket in 1977-78 and he didn't!

Bedi loved recollecting Bradman's response when an interviewer asked him before his 87th birthday about how he would like to be remembered. The one-word answer was, "integrity."

BS Bedi in numbers

67
No. of Tests he played in 13 years

22
No. of Tests he captained India in

28.71
Bowling average in Tests

266
No. of Test wickets he claimed, foxing the best in business

6
No. of Test matches he led India to victory in

11
No. of Tests India lost under the fine spinner