DDCA mourns 'Sardar of Spin' Bishan Singh Bedi's death, to hold condolence meet

Renowned for his artistic mastery on the cricket field, Bishan Singh Bedi's unparalleled finesse made him a true connoisseur's delight. Bedi, a crafty Indian spinner, possessed a stealthy, silent, and deadly approach, weaving a web of deception through subtle variations in flight, loop, spin, and pace, all while maintaining a seemingly unchanged action. He fearlessly challenged batters to take on his deliveries by lofting the ball generously, consistently proving to be a wicket-taking maestro throughout his illustrious career.

3 things you need to know

• Bishan Singh Bedi passed away at the age of 77
• The Indian legend was suffering from prolonged illness 
• Bedi was cremated in Delhi on October 24, 2023 

Bishan Singh Bedi's passion for cricket 

Bedi's journey to greatness included a successful stint with Northamptonshire, where he accumulated an impressive 1560 first-class wickets. An outspoken and forthright figure, he was not a stranger to controversy. He stood against the use of Vaseline by England's John Lever in 1976-77 and declared India's innings at Kingston to protest intimidatory West Indian bowling in 1976. His famous threat to dump the Indian cricket team in the sea in 1990, during his coaching tenure, remains etched in history.

A man of immense wisdom and generosity, Bedi's passion for the game remained undiminished, even though his critiques of modern cricket occasionally give way to a touch of bitterness. Bedi, who moved to Delhi in 1968-69 and took a record 64 wickets during the 1974-75 Ranji Trophy season, passed away at the age of 77 at his 'Cricket Abode' in Delhi on October 23, 2023. He is survived by his wife Anju, son Angad and daughter Neha.

The former India captain Bedi and Delhi & District Cricket Association's (DDCA) relationship turned sour in the recent past due to conflict of opinions. Bedi was particularly angry with the idea of installing a statue of late DDCA President Arun Jaitley at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium (now known as the Arun Jaitley Stadium). He had renounced his membership of the body in a letter written to the DDCA President Rohan Jaitley and went onto ask the officials to remove his name from the spectators' stand in 2020.

Despite the friction, Republic Media Network has learnt that DDCA, who paid for Bedi's medical expenses, will hold a condolence meet following the untimely demise of Bedi. Several DDCA officials on October 24 attended the funeral of Bedi, who died after prolonged illness, at the Lodhi Road crematorium in Delhi. 

Bedi's illustrious cricketing career saw him represent India in 67 Test matches between 1967 and 1979, taking 266 wickets. In addition, he made a mark in 10 One-Day Internationals, where he picked up seven crucial wickets. He, alongside fellow spin maestros Erapalli Prasanna, BS Chandrasekhar and S. Venkataraghavan, transformed India's spin bowling landscape.

One of the defining moments came during the Australian summer of 1977-78 when Bedi led the Indian cricket team to a hard-fought Test series. Despite a 3-2 result favouring Australia, Bedi's team secured memorable victories in Melbourne and Sydney.

Notably, Bedi played a pivotal role in India's first ODI win during the 1975 World Cup, where his miserly figures of 6/1 restricted East Africa to 120 runs. He made a significant contribution to Indian cricket, serving as the national team's first professional head coach in 1990, emphasising fitness.

After stepping down from the national team role, Bedi continued coaching and guided Punjab to their sole Ranji Trophy win in the 1992-93 season. Bishan Singh Bedi's legacy as a cricketer and coach will forever be cherished in Indian cricket history. His contributions continue to inspire aspiring cricketers and enthusiasts alike.