Srinagar: India’s spin legend Bishan Singh Bedi has passed away after a prolonged illness in Delhi at the age of 77.
Bedi was ailing for the last two years and had undergone multiple surgeries including one on the knee about a month ago. He is survived by his wife Anju, and two children, Neha and Angad.
Bedi represented India in 67 Tests and ten ODIs from 1967 to 1979. He was India’s highest wicket-taker in Tests, with 266 at an average of 28.71, at the time of his retirement. Bedi, the unorthodox legspinner Bhagwath Chandrasekhar, and offspinners Erapalli Prasanna and Srinivas Venkataraghavan made up the celebrated spin quartet that dominated Indian cricket in the 1970s.
Outside his feats in Indian cricket, Bedi also enjoyed a successful career in the County Championship with Northamptonshire, for whom he took 434 first-class wickets at 20.89.
Bedi also served as J&K coach from 2011 to 2013 ans is considered as main figure behind rise of J&K’s first International cricketer Parvez Rasool.
Meanwhile BCCI has also condoled Bedi’s demise.
“The BCCI mourns the sad demise of former India Test Captain and legendary spinner, Bishan Singh Bedi.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and fans in these tough times.
May his soul rest in peace,” BCCI statement reads.