Bishan Singh Bedi passes away, aged 77

Legendary Indian spinner Bishan Singh Bedi died at the age of 77 years on Monday, bringing the curtains down on one of the greatest chapters in Indian cricket. Bedi, who had 266 Test wickets from 67 matches, was hailed as the greatest Indian spinner for a long, long time before Anil Kumble replaced him at the pedestal. Bedi finished with 1560 first-class wickets, more than any other Indian bowler.

Bedi formed a great quartet along with Erapalli Prasanna, BS Chandrasekhar, and S. Venkataraghavan - as the four great spinners of their era created havoc around the world to build a massive reputation for themselves. 

Bedi remained a steadfast personality and often took fights with political figures in the cricketing ecosystem to maintain the integrity of the sport. In the process, he created many enemies, but his opinion on the sport and how it should be played remained utterly straightforward.

His influence on Indian cricket was visible when Bedi took to Delhi’s coaching scene and helped many young spinners find a grip on their career. From the likes of Sunil Joshi in the 1990s to Uttar Pradesh’s Saurabh Kumar, cricketers across generations had words of praise for the legendary spinner for providing them with his guidance. 

"Indian Cricket is surely poorer today. Not only was he among the greatest left-arm spinners in the world, but his passion and devotion to the game truly stood out. His skill with the ball was unmatched, and his cricketing wisdom was invaluable. He leaves behind a rich legacy which generations of cricketers can continue to follow. In this trying period, my thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones," BCCI President Roger Binny said in a statement.

At the time of his retirement, Bedi held the distinction of being India's highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. Post-retirement, he briefly served as Manager and was also a national selector. His illustrious cricketing journey was aptly recognized with several accolades, including the prestigious Padma Shri in 1970 and BCCI's C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.