Cricket world mourns death of legendary spin bowler Bishan Bedi

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Tributes are flowing for cricket legend Bishan Bedi after the former captain of India – and one of the greatest spin bowlers to have played the game – died, aged 77.

A slow left-armer with an armoury of variations, Bedi featured in 67 Tests between 1967 and 1979, claiming 266 wickets at an average of 28.71. At the time of his retirement, he was India’s leading wicket-taker.

A Sikh from the Punjab, who bowled in a patka, Bedi was a recognisable and outspoken figure.

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He was instrumental in a spin quartet also comprising leg-spinner Bhagwat Chandrasekhar and off-break bowlers Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Erapalli Prasanna that helped India’s rise in the 1960s and 1970s.

His best Test bowling figures were against Australia, 7-98 in an innings at Calcutta in 1969-70, and 10-194 in the match at Perth in 1977-78.

Bedi represented Northamptonshire in England and his total of 1,560 first-class wickets is the most by any Indian bowler.

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Bedi led his country in 22 Tests, winning six times, between 1975 and 1979. He was captain when India became the first team to encounter the West Indies’ famed four-man pace attack that would dominate cricket under Clive Lloyd and protested against “intimidatory bowling”.

After three batsmen were injured on a poor wicket in the 1976 Kingston Test, he declared the first innings at six down and was one of five batsmen ‘absent hurt’ in the second as West Indies won the Test and series.

He also conceded an ODI, against Pakistan in Sahiwal in 1978, after Sarfraz Nawaz had been allowed to bowl four successive bouncers with India requiring 23 runs from 14 balls with eight wickets in hand.

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar led the tributes with a moving post on social media.

There’s been an outpouring of grief for Bishan Bedi. Credit: X

“’Sashu’, he’d say with warmth that only he possessed. To Bishan Paaji, I wasn’t just another cricketer; I was like a son,” Tendulkar wrote.

“Under his nurturing guidance, I scored my first 100 in England. On chilly NZ evenings, we’d sit over meals, and I’d hang on to every story he told, every piece of wisdom he shared. Today, there’s an echoing silence where his voice used to be.

“The world seems a little emptier without you, Paaji. Rest in the eternal peace you so deserve.”

Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle said: “A genuine cricketing great, a proud Indian and a pure cricket lover moves on. The death of Bishan Bedi makes it a very sad day for India and for cricket. He was always encouraging and I will miss his easy laughter.”

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Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer said Bedi was the Rolls Royce of spin.

“Deeply saddened to hear that Bishan Bedi ji is no more. The Rolls Royce of left-arm spin and one of the greatest icons of the game whose contribution will be remembered forever. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “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.”

And India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin added: “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.”

Bedi had undergone multiple surgeries over the last two years including a knee operation a month ago. He is survived by his wife and two children.

– With AAP and agencies