India cricket legend Bishan Singh Bedi dead at 77: Former spin bowler, who was his country’s leading wicket taker before retiring in 1979, passes away after prolonged illness

The cricket world is mourning Indian great left-arm spinner Bishan Bedi after his death at the age of 77.

The all-time great cricketer passed away after a prolonged battle with age-related diseases after undergoing multiple surgeries in recent years.

A statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, from the Board of Control for Cricket in India said: ‘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 during these difficult times. May his soul rest in peace.’

Few slow bowlers have ever approached the crease as gracefully as Bedi, who at the time of his international retirement in 1979 had taken more Test wickets – 266 at an average of 28 – than any other Indian.

Bishan Singh Bedi passed away on Monday at the age of 77 after a long battle with illness

Bedi captained India in 22 Tests and impressed with his graceful and smooth bowling style

He also played in 10 one-day internationals, returning figures of 12-8-6-1 against East Africa at Headingley in the first Men’s World Cup in 1975. His Test economy of 2.14 confirmed his accuracy.

Bedi was part of India’s famous quartet of slow bowlers in the 1970s, along with Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, Eralli Prasanna and Srinivasan Venkataraghavan, and also spent six summers in Northamptonshire, where he took 434 first-class wickets at just 20 each.

But it will be the smoothness of the run-up and delivery that Bedi will be most fondly remembered for. He liked to beat batsmen in the air, preferring to lure them down the track, although he would occasionally applaud an opponent who managed to hit him for six.

Above all, he brought artistry to the cricket field. As former England captain Mike Brearley once wrote in Wisden: ‘Of all the slow bowlers of Bedi’s era, none forced you to commit later than he did.

‘With small, last-second adjustments to wrist and hand angles he could bowl successive balls that looked identical, perhaps as if they were all landing on a length just outside the stump.’

Bedi captained India in 22 Tests and knew his own mind. Against the West Indies in Jamaica in April 1976, he declared his team’s first innings at 306 for six as he feared for the safety of his players against hostile fast bowling on an uneven pitch. In their second innings, five Indian batsmen were recorded as injured absent, before the West Indies won by 10 wickets.

Bedi remained an outspoken critic of the game’s administration in India and asked for his name to be removed from a stand at Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium after the ground was renamed in honor of Indian politician Arun Jaitley.

The Indian cricket legend is pictured in 2016 alongside his son and actor Angad Bedi, right

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes and said on X: “Deeply saddened by the passing away of renowned cricketer Shri Bishan Singh Bedi Ji.

“His passion for the sport was unwavering and his exemplary bowling performances led India to numerous memorable victories.

“He will continue to inspire future generations of cricketers. Condolences to his family and admirers.”

India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin added, “Sad to hear about the death of the great Bishen Singh Bedi, apart from being a great cricketer, he was an affable person and did his best to help young cricketers.”