23 October,2023 04:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Former Indian Cricket skipper and spinner Bishan Singh Bedi (L) talks with Indian fast bowler Ashish Nehra (Pic: AFP)
Bishan Singh Bedi death: Former India captain and country's greatest ever left-arm spinner Bishan Singh Bedi passed away on Monday after prolonged illness. He was 77 years old and is survived by his wife Anju, son Angad and daughter Neha.
Born in Amritsar in 1946, Bedi played 67 Tests for India and took 266 wickets with 14 five wicket hauls and one 10-wicket haul.
Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur confirmed the unfortunate news and said, "Former India captain and spinner Bishan Singh Bedi has passed away. It is a very sad news. It's a huge loss for India. He started so many camps in Himachal. I and the whole cricketing family stand with his family."
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He was the part of Indian cricket's golden quartet of spinners, others being Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chadrasekhar and Srinivas Venkataraghavan, who formed the core of India's bowling unit for more than a decade between 1966 and 1978.
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Bedi was briefly the manager of the Indian cricket team in 1990 during tours of New Zealand and England.
He was also a national selector and mentor to many talented spinners like Maninder Singh and Murali Kartik, who all swore by his technical insight.
He was also honoured with the Padma Shri Award in 1970. Bedi also represented Northamptonshire in English county cricket for many years.
In his condolence message Home Minister Amit Shah spoke about the mastery of Bedi's craft. "Deeply saddened by the demise of the legendary spinner and former captain of the Indian cricket team Bishan Singh Bedi Ji. Bedi Ji will live in our memories not only through his contribution to the cricketing world but also as the master of crafty bowling who could weave magic on the pitch. My heartfelt condolences to his family members and his fans in this hour of grief" the Home Minister posted on X.
(With inputs from agencies)
