Indian cricket icon Bishan Singh Bedi passes away at 77

Bishan Singh Bedi, an Indian cricket legend, has passed away at the age of 77 following a prolonged illness. He had been battling age-related illnesses and had undergone several surgeries in recent years. Bedi, considered one of the finest spin bowlers in the world, captained India in 22 out of his 67 Tests and took 266 wickets. He made his debut against West Indies in 1966 and played his last Test against England in 1979. Bedi also had a successful career in English county cricket, playing for Northamptonshire and finishing with the highest number of first-class wickets by any Indian bowler, a total of 1,560. He was part of India's celebrated quartet of spin bowlers in the 1960s and 70s, alongside Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, and Srinivas Venkataraghavan. In 2021, Bedi was chosen by readers for a place in BBC Sport's all-time India Test XI. Born in Amritsar, Punjab, Bedi began playing cricket at a young age and represented India in Tests when he was 20 years old. One of his best bowling performances came in 1969 against Australia, where he took seven wickets for 98 runs in a Test match that India ultimately lost. Known for his distinctive pink or bright blue turban, Bedi was praised for his graceful and deceptive spin bowling style. He was respected by other cricket legends such as Sir Garry Sobers, Mike Brearley, and Sir Donald Bradman. Bedi was also known for being outspoken and frequently involved in controversies. In 1976, he declared India's second innings during a match against West Indies in protest against intimidatory bowling. He accused John Lever of England using Vaseline to swing the ball in 1977 and forfeited a match against Pakistan the following year, alleging partisan umpiring. As the national coach in 1990, he threatened to throw the India team in the sea after a loss against Australia, and in 2002, he criticized Muttiah Muralitharan, accusing him of throwing. Bedi turned down offers to play in rebel tournaments, including World Series Cricket, and was critical of player auctions in the Indian Premier League. He was known for his straightforward nature and was not hesitant to criticize cricket board officials. Bedi was a sociable and flamboyant person who had a great love for dogs and a sense of humor. His daughter described their home as full of laughter, alcohol, and food. Bedi's wit and rebellious spirit were exemplified when he named two dogs Charles and Diana and brought them to India, causing an official at a London airport to question his motives. Bedi jokingly replied that he was "taking the royalty with him." He will be remembered as an irreverent and rebellious personality, as well as one of the greatest cricketers of all time.